DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.12549370
title: Datasets of Human-shark interactions in New Caledonia and Reunion Island (1980-2022)

description: This dataset encompasses detailed records of human-shark interactions incidents in New Caledonia and Reunion Island from 1980 to 2022. It is designed to support a multi-criteria analysis of these incidents, providing insights into the conditions and characteristics surrounding each event.

Attributes 1. SITE Geographic location of the human-shark interactions (New Caledonia or Reunion Island).2. N: Sequential number of the incident.3. DATE: Date of the human-shark interactions (YYYY-MM-DD format).4. YEAR: Year of the incident.5. MONTH: Month of the incident.6. DAY: Day of the week when the incident occurred.7. HOUR: Time of the incident (24-hour format).8. HOURTYPO: Time range category (e.g., 13-15 for 1 PM to 3 PM).9. SEASON: Season during which the human-shark interactions occurred (Summer, Winter, etc.).10. WEEKEND: Indicates whether the incident occurred on a weekend (Weekend or Week).11. MORNING: Time of day (Morning, Afternoon, etc.).12. ZONE: Specific zone or region within the site classified into five categories: East, West, Loyalty Islands, Noumea or Greater Noumea (Noumea town, Mont-Dore, Paita and Dumbea), Bays of Noumea 13. WIND: Windward or leeward side.14. RAINJ: Rainfall on the day of the incident (in millimeters).15. RAINJ3: Cumulative rainfall over the past three days (in millimeters).16. SWELL: Swell height (in meters).17. CLOUD: Cloud cover percentage.18. TURB: Water turbidity (e.g., Slightly turbid).19. SCOREMOON: Lunar phase during the incident (e.g., Full or new moon).20. GENDER: Gender of the victim (Male or Female).21. AGE: Age of the victim.22. ACTIVITY: Activity the victim was engaged in during the attack (e.g., Spearfisher, Swimmer).23. GRAV: Severity of the injury (e.g., Significant bite, Minor bite).24. INJURY: Outcome of the attack (e.g., Non-fatal).25. SHARKTYPE: Type of shark involved (if identified).26. SHARKCAT: Category of the shark (e.g., Great White, Tiger Shark).27. SHARKSIZE: Estimated length of the shark (in meters).

Usage NotesThis dataset is intended for researchers and analysts studying human-shark interactions patterns, environmental influences on shark behavior, and risk factors associated with human-shark interactions. It provides comprehensive details necessary for performing statistical analyses and comparative studies between New Caledonia and Reunion Island.

Data SourcesThe data has been compiled from various local and international databases, publications, and eyewitness accounts to ensure accuracy and completeness.



1. Main sources- Taglioni, F., Guiltat, S. & Delsaut, M. Datasets of Human–shark interactions in New Caledonia (1980-2022). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12549370 (Data from 1980 to 2022)- P. Tirard, Requins du caillou, Edition Philippe Tirard, Nouméa, 2011 (Data from 1980 to 2010)- F. Dreyer, Les attaques de requin en Nouvelle- Calédonie, MD Doctorate, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, 2001, p. 208 (Data from 1980 to 2000)- Global Shark Attack file (GSAF) (Data from 1980 to 2022)- Various articles in the French national and Caledonian press (Data from 1980 to 2022)

2. Environmental factors- Rainfall: Météo France (French National Meteorological Service). Data extracted from the nearest rainfall station (32 stations) on the day of the human–shark interaction and cumulated rainfall over the previous three days- Cloud cover expressed as percentages:* NOAA from 2008 to 2022;   * Weather forecasts from 1999 to 2022 (data from Météo France New Caledonia) ; from 1980 to 1998: Dreyer andTirard- Swell height:   * WaveWatch 3 (NOAA) data, from 2008 to 2022   * Weather forecasts from 1999 to 2022 (data from Météo France New Caledonia)   * From 1980 to 1998: Dreyer and Tirard - Turbidity: empirical estimated score from the swell, rainfall, and knowledge of the benthic substrate, Dreyer  and Tirard, information from the local press; score: authors- Moon phase: ephemeris; score: authors

3. Contextual factors- Date, human–shark interaction location, time, shark species and height according to:   * Dreyer, 2001   * Tirard, 2011   * Global Shark Attack File (GSAF)   * Various articles in the New Caledonia local press and the French national (analyses from 1980 to 2022)

4. Victim characteristics- Age of victim, sex (male/female), victim’s activity at time of human–shark interaction, severity of injuries (score: authors), according to:   * Dreyer, 2001   * Tirard, 2011   * Global Shark Attack File (GSAF)   * Various articles in the New Caledonia local press and the French national (analyses from 1980 to 2022)