48 attacks recorded (5 fatal)
| Date | Country | Region | Location | Fatal? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 1st 1981 | South Africa | KZN | Widenham | N | |
| Jan 30th 1981 | USA | Florida | 20 miles from Mayport | N | |
| Feb 1st 1981 | Brazil | Rio de Janeiro (State) | Cabo Frio | N | |
| Feb 2nd 1981 | USA | Florida | Juno Beach, Palm Beach County | N | |
| Feb 7th 1981 | Australia | Western Australia | Parker's Point, Rottnest Island | N | |
| Feb 16th 1981 | Australia | Western Australia | Leighton Beach, north of Freemantle | N | |
| Feb 19th 1981 | South Africa | KZN | Umtentweni | N | |
| Mar 1st 1981 | Brazil | Rio de Janeiro (State) | Cabo Frio | N | |
| Mar 8th 1981 | Bermuda | N | |||
| Mar 14th 1981 | Chile | Coquimbo | Bahia Totoralillo, 80 km north of Coquimbo | N | |
| Mar 24th 1981 | USA | Florida | Singer Island, Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County | N | |
| Mar 25th 1981 | USA | Florida | Singer Island, Riviera Beach, Palm Beach County | N | |
| May 5th 1981 | South Africa | Eastern Cape Province | Ntlonyane Bay | N | |
| May 7th 1981 | Namibia | Walvis Bay | N | ||
| May 10th 1981 | South Africa | Eastern Cape Province | Kings Beach | N | |
| May 19th 1981 | USA | Florida | Sands Cut, Elliot Key | N | |
| May 20th 1981 | South Africa | Eastern Cape Province | Nahoon | N | |
| May 23rd 1981 | South Korea | Chungnam | Wae-yeon Island | Y | |
| May 24th 1981 | USA | Hawaii | Ha'ena Beach Park, Kaua'i | Y | |
| May 26th 1981 | USA | Florida | Jacksonville | N | |
| Jun 12th 1981 | USA | Hawaii | Honoli'i Pali, Hilo Bay ('Alae Point), Hawai'i | N | |
| Jun 15th 1981 | England | Isle of Wight | N | ||
| Jul 1st 1981 | Australia | New South Wales | Byron Bay | N | |
| Jul 1st 1981 | South Africa | KZN | Clansthal | N | |
| Jul 7th 1981 | USA | Florida | Carter Cay | N | |
| Jul 18th 1981 | South Africa | Eastern Cape Province | Nahoon | N | |
| Jul 20th 1981 | USA | Florida | St. Petersburg Beach, Pinellas County | N | |
| Aug 7th 1981 | Bahamas | Grand Bahama Island | Gingerbread Reef, east of Little Isaac Island / Northern edge of Great Bahama Bank | N | |
| Aug 10th 1981 | USA | Florida | Ormond Beach / Daytona Beach, Volusia County | Y | |
| Aug 10th 1981 | USA | Florida | Grassy Key, Marathon | N | |
| Aug 24th 1981 | USA | Hawaii | Keaukaha, Hilo, Hawai'i | N | |
| Aug 24th 1981 | USA | Florida | Gulf Island National Seashore Park | N | |
| Aug 29th 1981 | USA | Florida | New Smyrna Beach, Volusia County | N | |
| Sep 3rd 1981 | USA | Florida | Cocoa Beach, Brevard County | N | |
| Sep 3rd 1981 | USA | Florida | Patrick Air Force Base, Brevard County | N | |
| Sep 15th 1981 | USA | Florida | Tampa Bay, Manatee County | Y | |
| Sep 27th 1981 | USA | Florida | Melbourne Beach, Brevard County | N | |
| Sep 28th 1981 | USA | Florida | Cocoa Beach, Brevard County | N | |
| Oct 1st 1981 | USA | Florida | Playalinda Beach, Brevard County | N | |
| Oct 16th 1981 | USA | Florida | Cocoa Beach, Brevard County | N | |
| Oct 17th 1981 | USA | Florida | Palm Beach, Palm Beach County | N | |
| Oct 19th 1981 | USA | Florida | Jupiter Inlet, Brevard County | N | |
| Oct 19th 1981 | South Africa | Western Cape Province | Mossel Bay | N | |
| Nov 9th 1981 | USA | Hawaii | La'au Point, Moloka'i | N | |
| Nov 30th 1981 | Reunion | Saint Philippe | Vicendo | N | |
| Dec 13th 1981 | USA | Hawaii | Nimitz Beach, Barbers Point, O'ahu | N | |
| Dec 13th 1981 | Australia | Queensland | Green Island | N | |
| Dec 19th 1981 | USA | California | South Moss Beach, Spanish Bay, Monterey Peninsula | Y |