A new report says shark attacks declined in the U.S. last year, but Florida led nationally with 11 of the America's 29 attacks.
Worldwide fatalities reached a two-decade high, according to the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File report Tuesday. Six of Florida's attacks were in Volusia County.
According to the report, the U.S. and Florida saw a five-year downturn in the number of reported unprovoked attacks. But ichthyologist George Burgess says the 12 fatalities — which all occurred outside the U.S. — may show tourists are venturing to more remote places with less access to immediate medical care. The number of deaths in 2011 was twice that of 2010.
A total of 75 attacks were reported worldwide, which is close to the decade average.
