In the pristine waters of Croatia, a top tourist destination known for its breathtaking coastline, there’s been a recent surge in shark interactions. Updated weekly, this page offers the latest details on shark attacks in Croatia. While these events are rare, they can influence decisions for both locals and travelers. As we shed light on these incidents, our aim is to provide a balanced perspective on the vibrant marine life of Croatia and the human experiences within it. Safety and awareness remain paramount.
Recent Shark Attacks in Croatia
| Date / Time | Country / Area | Activity | Name | Sex / Age | Injury | Species |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 06-28-2012 | CROATIA | Swimming | /60 | Leg struck. Initally reported as a shark attack, but involved a swordfish | No shark involvement | |
| 10-06-2008 12h00 | CROATIA ,Split-Dalmatia Count, | Spearfishing | Damjan Pecek | M /43 | Calf bitten | 5 m white shark |
| 08-10-1974 15h00 | CROATIA ,Split-Dalmatia County | Rolf Schneider | M /21 | Foot severed FATAL | White shark, 5 m [16.5'] | |
| 01-01-1974 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | 2 Czech tourists | FATAL | |||
| 09-07-1971 10h30 | CROATIA ,Istria County | Swimming | Stanislav Klepa | M /34 | FATAL | White shark |
| 01-01-1971 | CROATIA ,Istria | Swimming | Stanislaw Klepka | M | FATAL | White shark |
| 01-01-1970 | CROATIA ,Zadar County | Spearfishing | Mr. Jurincic | M | No details | White shark |
| 08-16-1966 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | Swimming | Josef Treliac | M /33 | FATAL | White shark |
| 09-24-1961 Early afternoon | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | Swimming | Sabit Plana | M /19 | FATAL, hand severed & legs bitten | White shark |
| 08-12-1959 | CROATIA ,Istria | Fishing | Narcisco Tomaz | M | Laceration to arm PROVOKED INCIDENT | 20 kg shark |
| 08-01-1958 18h00 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | Swimming | Hilda Keller | F | Leg injured | 3 m shark |
| 08-26-1955 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | Swimming | Carla Podzum | F /32 | FATAL | White shark |
| 10-02-1954 | CROATIA ,Zadar County | Boating | No details | White shark, 5.5 m [18'] | ||
| 07-01-1954 | CROATIA | male | M | Human remains found in shark | Shark involvement prior to death was not confirmed | |
| 07-01-1935 15h00 | CROATIA ,Adriatic Sea | Swimming | Mira Kudlich | F /22 | FATAL | |
| 08-21-1934 | CROATIA ,Adriatic Sea | Swimming | Agnes Novak | F /18 | FATAL | White shark |
| 07-15-1914 | CROATIA ,Zadar County | Washing clothes | female | F | No injury, shark grabbed clothes | 1.5 m [5'] shark |
| 07-07-1914 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | male | M | No injury, shark nudged raft and circled for 2 hrs. | 6 m shark | |
| 09-03-1913 | CROATIA ,Istria County | Fishing | M | Badly bitten by a shark dragged onboard PROVOKED INCIDENT | 2 m shark | |
| 12-25-1910 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | male | M | FATAL? | Questionable | |
| 07-08-1908 | CROATIA ,Adriatic Sea | Watercraft | Milena Scambelli | F | FATAL, lost a leg | Species unknown, possible white shark |
| 09-11-1907 | CROATIA ,Split-Dalmatia Count, | Swimming | female | F | FATAL | |
| 08-12-1907 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | Swimming | Josef Slivovic | M | FATAL | |
| 08-12-1907 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | Swimming | a school teacher | F | FATAL | |
| 07-14-1907 | CROATIA ,Split-Dalmatia Count, | Swimming | female | F | FATAL | |
| 08-24-1902 | CROATIA ,Istria County | Fishing | Row boat; occupants - 2 young men | M | No injury to occupants, shark grabbed anchor rope & towed boat | |
| 07-31-1900 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | Swimming | male | M | FATAL | |
| 10-16-1893 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | small boat | 4 passengers frightened by shark | No injury; no attack | Invalid | |
| 06-26-1890 | CROATIA | Swimming | Mayonni | M | Legs severed | |
| 10-23-1888 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | Human remains found in shark | 5m, 3500 kg female shark | |||
| 07-04-1888 | CROATIA ,Lukovo | Human remains & clothing found in 7' shark | Shark involvement prior to death unconfirmed | |||
| 09-11-1887 | CROATIA ,Primorje-Gorski Kotar County | Shoes & human remains found in a shark | Shark involvement prior to death unconfirmed | |||
| 11-14-1874 | CROATIA ,Zadar County | Fishing | 2 occupants | Shark damaged boat, but no injury to occupants | ||
| 08-07-1872 | CROATIA | Fishing | male | M | No injury | Invalid |
| CROATIA ,Split-Dalmatia County | Fishing | 2 males | M | Injured by shark they were trying to catch PROVOKED INCIDENT |
What precautions should one take to avoid shark attacks in Croatia?
In Croatia, despite the extremely low occurrence of shark encounters, it’s still advisable to take general marine safety precautions. These could include avoiding swimming at dusk or dawn when sharks are most active, refraining from entering the water if bleeding, and staying close to the shore.
What types of sharks are commonly found in Croatia’s waters?
In Croatia’s waters, several shark species can be found. Among the most common are the blue shark and the lesser-spotted dogfish. However, it’s important to note that not all sharks present in Croatia’s marine ecosystem pose a threat to humans.
How does Croatia handle shark sightings and potential threats?
Croatia takes marine safety seriously. When shark sightings or potential threats are reported, Croatian authorities collaborate with local communities to monitor the situation and take necessary precautions. They also provide guidelines and awareness campaigns to ensure safe water activities for both locals and tourists.
