RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) _ A newly released federal study shows a record number of sharks swimming off the coast from Florida to North Carolina.

The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk reports that the increase in sharks comes as North Carolina set a record for shark attacks this summer.

Eight people have been attacked by sharks along the North Carolina coast this year, the most since a Florida group began counting attacks 80 years ago.

The new study shows researchers captured or tagged 2,835 sharks from Florida to North Carolina in April and May. That compares with 1,831 sharks tagged in the most recent survey in 2012.

The 2,835 sharks — the most in 29 years of surveying — were tagged  from April 4 through May 22.

The most common species were sandbar, Atlantic sharpnose, dusky and tiger sharks.

The largest captured was a 12-1/2-foot tiger shark off the North Carolina coast.

Three white sharks also were collected.
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Information from: The Virginian-Pilot, http://pilotonline.com