Some researchers have predicted that the number of shark attacks this year should easily exceed the total from 2013, since more sharks are being found off the Eastern U.S. and Canada after decades of decline.
The expected increase in attacks is logical, especially since the number of people swimming in oceans around the world increases every year.
Shark populations are also growing around the world, including the number of great white sharks, according to a recent study.
More exposure and more sharks will equal more attacks, though they can be avoided.
Shark attacks are both rare and can be avoided as long as swimmers follow the proper safety protocol, which includes staying out of the water when bleeding and avoiding locations where predators might gather.
It is wise to stay away from the mouth of a river and near large schools of fish, according to Burgess.
"Stay in groups," Burgess said. "Sharks look for solitary prey. Also, stay out of the water between dusk and dawn, when sharks are most active. Go for a sunset walk on the beach and not a swim."
Burgess firmly believes that more sharks are a good thing, saying that it's a sign that the ocean's ecosystems are somewhat stable.
"If something is wrong with the largest, most powerful group in the sea, then something is wrong with the sea, so it's a relief to find they're in good shape," Burgess explained.
Burgess praised regulatory agencies in the U.S. for their conservation measures, crediting them for the rebounding shark populations around the country.
Only 106 unprovoked white shark attacks have occurred in U.S. waters since 1916, according to a study by the University of Florida. Of those attacks, 13 were fatal.
A federal 1997 act was put into place that prevented hunters from killing great whites, which has helped the species greatly.
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