Researchers have documented a confirmed sighting of a white shark in Spanish Mediterranean waters, shedding light on its sporadic occurrence in the region.
Researchers from the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC), in collaboration with the University of Cádiz, have recently documented a confirmed record of a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in the Spanish Mediterranean. This finding, published in the scientific journal Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, provides new insights into the occurrence of one of the most iconic and charismatic members of oceanic megafauna in Spanish waters.
The white shark was accidentally caught by a fisherman in April 2023, approximately 20 nautical miles off the coast near Dénia and Jávea, areas known for bluefin tuna routes during the fishing season. The shark measured around 210 cm in total length and weighed between 80 and 90 kg, indicating it was a juvenile.While adult white sharks reach a length of around four and a half meters, they can exceed six and a half meters, highlighting that the captured individual had much growing to do.
This incident marks one of the few verified records of white sharks in Spanish waters over the past decades, indicating that while their presence is rare, it is not entirely absent. These findings could have implications for marine conservation policies and public awareness regarding the species, contributing to a better understanding of their habitats and migration patterns within Mediterranean waters.
