A chance encounter with a young great white shark has prompted scientists to revisit more than a century and a half of records in an effort to better understand one of the Mediterranean Sea's most elusive predators.
On April 20, 2023, local fishermen accidentally caught a juvenile great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) off the coast of the eastern peninsula. The shark measured about 210 centimeters (nearly 7 feet) long and weighed between 80 and 90 kilograms (176 to 198 pounds). While great white sharks are among the world's most recognizable marine animals, sightings in this part of the Mediterranean are exceptionally uncommon.
The unusual catch led researchers to examine historical records dating from 1862 through 2023. Their findings were compiled into a comprehensive review published in the open access journal Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria.
The Mediterranean's "Ghost" Great White Sharks
By combining the recent shark capture with 160 years of documented records, the researchers concluded that great white sharks continue to inhabit Mediterranean waters, even if they are rarely seen.
