ORLANDO, FLA (Catholic Online) - According to the world's authority on shark bites, the University of Florida's International Shark Attack File, the neighboring coastline counties each reported eight unprovoked shark bites. Together, they account for more than half of all shark attacks in Florida historically.

The report also notes that shark attacks in the United States hit their highest level in more than a decade with 54 bites in 2012 - 27 of which were reported in Florida alone.

"It's subjective, but your chance of being bitten are not any greater in those counties than other areas in the state," UF shark expert George Burgess said. "They just recorded more because of the high numbers of people in the water."

The rising number of bites does not represent a sudden spike but a return to normalcy after a decade of decline, Burgess said.

© 2013, Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.