Year after year, the media sensationalizes the shark attacks that occur during the summer months.

Despite the fear of what’s below the surface of the ocean, according to the Shark Attack File, “bees, wasps and snakes are each responsible for far more deaths annually in the U.S. than sharks” (USA Today). People are more likely to die from drowning or cardiac arrest than being fatally attacked by a shark.

But we don't see people screaming for help when they see a wasp, do we?

Because there has been a significant increase in the number of shark attacks, especially along the East Coast, experts are taking a closer look. Taking into consideration the amount of people that migrate to the coasts during the beautiful beach months, this is no surprise.

According to USA Today, so far this year, there have been 23 shark attacks. That is just seven attacks shy of what the United States, on average, sees every year. With more than a month and a half left of summer, experts are concerned. Whether these attacks are outliers, or signs of what is to come, researchers are trying to find the most logical explanation as to why shark attacks have increased.

Some of the ideas experts have come up with are overfishing, increased water temperatures, and fisherman fishing too close to swimming areas.

Another possible contributor could be the draught weather that has decreasing the amount of freshwater runoff. This causes the water to be more potent with salt, which sharks tend to prefer.

With more and more people migrating to the beach every year, spending an increased amount of time in the sea, the opportunity “for interaction between the two affected parties" increases (Shark Attack File).

But could these hypotheses really be why there are more attacks this year than ever before?

In the Carolinas alone, there have been nine victims thus far. While none of them have been fatal, the amount of attacks is more than four times what the Carolinas usually see.

Unfortunately, there is no way to shark-proof the waters, so many spend their summers indoors.

Hopefully, the summer of 2015 won’t be a record-setting summer.