NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Shark attacks declined globally for the third straight year, but the figures show Volusia County remains the unofficial shark-bite capital of the world.

Sharks bit 22 people in Volusia waters -- tying a record set in 2001, according to Capt. Scott Petersohn, who keeps such statistics for Volusia's Beach Patrol.

However, Petersohn said this year's incidents did not attract much attention because they were spread throughout the year, including bites as late as December.

"They came in dribs and drabs rather than concentrated like 2001," he said. "It did not seem as bad."

Volusia bites gained worldwide media attention in 2001 when more than 16 took place in about two weeks in August. Most of the injuries were minor.

The Volusia County numbers buck trends worldwide, nationally and in Florida, according a report by George Burgess, director of the International Shark Attack File at the University of Florida,

More than half of the attacks in the United States occurred in Florida for the third year. However, the 29 bites reported were down from 37 in 2001 and 38 in 2000, according to the Shark File Web site.

Three people were killed by sharks out of 60 attacks across the globe last year -- down from five deaths in 72 attacks in 2001 and 13 deaths in 85 attacks in 2000.

Despite the declines, the report said the number of unprovoked shark attacks has continued to grow at a steady rate over the past century, along with the world's population.

Burgess said Florida's slower-than-normal tourist season in 2002 may have contributed to the statewide decline.

However, Beach Patrol Capt. Rob Horster, who supervises the shore south of Ponce de Leon Inlet, does not believe there were fewer people along his beach.

"The inlet is not a tourist area," he said. Does that mean there were fewer sharks? Horster said there is no way to tell.

"There are always sharks out there," he said.