The number of shark attacks surged across the globe last year after dropping drastically in 2020 due to the pandemic, researchers said.

Some 73 unprovoked attacks were tallied worldwide in 2021, up from 57 bites the year before, researchers at the International Shark Attack File said Monday.

Last year’s total closely aligns with the five-year global average of 72 and comes after case numbers dropped for three consecutive years, including a drastic decline in 2020 that researchers attributed to pandemic-related lockdowns and far fewer people at the beach.

“This past year was much more typical, with average bite numbers from an assortment of species and fatalities from white shark, bull sharks and tiger sharks,” ISAF manager Tyler Bowling said in a statement.

Eleven shark-related fatalities were tallied worldwide in 2021 — with 9 of the attacks classified as unprovoked, compared to the annual global average of 5, researchers said.

Three deaths were recorded in Australia, while two occurred in New Caledonia in the southwest Pacific. The United States, Brazil, New Zealand and South Africa each had one fatal attack, researchers said.

Tomas Butterfield, 42, of Sacramento, died on Christmas Eve when a suspected great white shark bit him while on a boogie board at a California beach known as “The Pit,” according to reports.

The United States led the world once again with the most unprovoked shark bites last year – with 47 confirmed attacks, or 64% of the global tally.

Florida continued to dominate that list, with 28 unprovoked attacks recorded in the state compared to 19 in the rest of the country. Hawaii had 6 such incidents, followed by South Carolina (4), California (3) and North Carolina (3), data shows.

Of the unprovoked attacks in Florida, 17 occurred in Volusia County, representing 63% of the entire state’s total. The county kept its unwanted title of Shark Bite Capital of the World, which it has consistently held for more than a decade. There’s an ongoing research project being conducted to figure out exactly why, Bowling said.

“This represents an increase from the five-year annual average of nine incidents in the area,” researchers said. “However, Volusia County experiences considerable variation in the number of bites from one year to the next.”

Surfers and people partaking in board sports accounted for 51% of all people who were attacked last year, compared to 39% of victims who were swimming or wading in waters.

Researchers said the number of unprovoked shark attacks remains “extremely low” given the large numbers of people who get into the water.

“This year’s increase in fatalities does not necessarily constitute a shift in the long-term trends,” the ISAF said. “Fatality rates have been declining for decades, reflecting advances in beach safety, medical treatment and public awareness.”

There’s no evidence the spike in fatalities is tied to any “natural phenomena,” researchers said.

“Rather it is likely the consequence of chance, a conclusion underscored by the fact that the number of unprovoked bites is in line with recent five-year trends,” the ISAF said Monday.

Bowling, meanwhile, said the spike is “almost certainly” linked to growing numbers of white sharks in response to a population boom of seals that they prey upon.

To cut your risk of being bitten by a shark, ISAF officials suggested people swim with a partner while staying close to shore and not to swim at dawn or dusk. Those in the water should also avoid wearing jewelry and stay away from areas where people are fishing.