Shark attacks down last year

Shark attacks around the world declined last year, for the third year in a row.

The University of Florida, home of the International Shark Attack File, said the 55 unprovoked attacks compared with 63 in 2002 and 68 in 2001.

Four people were killed. Three died in 2002, four in 2001 and 11 in 2000. Most of last year's attacks, 41, were in US waters. Australia had 6 attacks, Brazil and South Africa, two each, and Fiji, India, Madagascar and Venezuela, one each.