A juvenile great white shark has been caught off the eastern coast of Spain, leading scientists to speculate that these formidable predators may have resumed breeding in the Mediterranean Sea. The shark, which measured approximately 210 cm in length and weighed between 80 kg and 90 kg, was inadvertently captured by fishermen. This incident has prompted researchers to revisit historical data on great white sharks in the region, with publications dating back as far as 1862.

According to a newly published study in the open-access journal Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, the findings indicate that while the Mediterranean population of great white sharks has long been thought to be extinct, it appears that these creatures may still inhabit the area, albeit in very low numbers. This so-called ‘ghost’ population has led to a renewed interest in the environmental conditions of the Mediterranean, and the possibility of these sharks breeding in the region again marks a significant ecological development.

Great white sharks are currently classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, with their population numbers continuing to decline globally. The discovery of a juvenile shark in the Mediterranean not only sheds light on the species' presence in the area but also raises important questions regarding the conservation efforts needed to protect these marine predators and their habitats from ongoing environmental threats.