The fear of sharks is known as galeophobia. Blues tend to cause concern due to their size, which can hit a whopping 10 feet from tip to tail. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/, A great white shark was pictured off the coast of Majorca by a group of scientists, Credit: ALNITAK / Beat von Niederhaeusern, The Great White was spotted near the island of Cabrera just off the holiday hotspot of Majorca, A four-metre-long monster was caught in the Med on October 2015, Surprisingly, the UK has the second highest number of attacks in Europe, Great white shark stalks surfer off Sydney's Bondi Beach, Moment shark swims past Menorca holidaymakers just a few feet from the shoreline, Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). The blue shark is one of the most common sharks in the Mediterranean Sea. Will sharks become extinct in the Mediterranean? They are their main prey in med tuna have been so over-fished they could now be extinct. Not officially getting its own name until 1966, the Longfin Mako is one of two species of Mako in the world and is considered to be one of the largest Lamnidae sharks to date. Most Kitefin Sharks grow to be about 5 feet long which is shorter than the average person and can weigh as little as 18 pounds when fully mature. Although the great white is not exactly a common sight in the Med, weve included it here because it is undoubtedly the most famous and most feared of all sharks known to reside in the region. Although the Kitefin lives in abundance throughout the Mediterranian Sea, it wont be spotted by the average person since it lives so far below the surface. Whether sharks will become extinct in the Mediterranean or in general is highly unlikely, but one thing that is certain is that more measures need to be taken to protect shark populations all over the world. However, one of the peoples biggest concerns is sharks and whether or not they run the risk of getting attacked by these marine creatures by swimming in the Mediterranean. It may be scary to think that these giant sharks travel in packs, but just know that they arent normally aggressive towards humans and will never be found in shallow water. While the chances of being attacked by an angel shark are slim to none, it is important to note that they do have sharp teeth and bites to scuba divers have been reported when the angel shark is provoked. 679215 Registered office: 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF. Spain has seen the next highest number of shark attacks with 12 recorded in the same period, although all of the victims survived. Convincing newly appointed micro-biologist (Stinshoff) proves relatively easy, but she's oblivious to the grand scheme that has created the giant shark from living DNA recovered from a frozen specimen found in the Antarctic. 9 Species You Can Find. "However, we are starting to see some locations where sharks are appearing regularly, such as Israel. Contrary to popular belief, sharks are not quite the violent, blood-thirsty, human-eating predators the media makes them out to be. They usually prefer cool but not too cold waters. He told The Sun Online: "More northward movements of the Mediterranean population of white sharks into the British Isles is a possibility with climate change." So far in 2021 there have been 44 shark attacks including five fatalities, while in 2020 there were 60 bites with nine deaths - the highest since 2011. . Are There Sharks in the Mediterranean Sea? - Dutch Shark Society While the angel shark is considered to be one of the most common sharks in the Mediterranean, it is also one of the sharks facing the greatest risk of extinction. Other potentially dangerous sharks are the Blacktip shark, the Sand Tiger and the Hammerhead. Sadly, this is exactly what has been happening. And yes, they really do jump out of the water like the way they are portrayed in pictures and movies. They need salt in their bodies to survive. The largest blue shark ever caught in UK seas weighed 256lbs (116kg) and measured over 9ft (2.74m). Known as the largest of the nine hammerhead species, the Great Hammerhead Shark is a force to be reckoned withfor other marine life, that is. Of these 20 great white shark attacks in the Mediterranean, 12 have been fatal and all shark attacks were unprovoked attacks. It also rips off a scene from the Terminator. But there are some feirce predators in the region that are worth noting. These guys dont have the traditional body or fin shape of a shark. The Blue Shark gets its name from its vibrant blue colors, varying in shades, across its backside, and along its sides and theyre known to a length of thirteen feet and weigh up to 500 pounds. "The Sun", "Sun", "Sun Online" are registered trademarks or trade names of News Group Newspapers Limited. By what name was Shark Attack in the Mediterranean (2004) officially released in Canada in English? . In the Mediterranean, rays, such as the Maltese ray and the Marbled Stingray, are also endangered. They feed primarily on crustaceans and bottom-dwelling fish such as rays and skates, although they are known to eat other, smaller shark species, too. Never play dead, as you will present yourself as an easy meal. To ensure safety, it is important for swimmers to consult with local lifeguard stations, asking about the dangers in the place they want to swim before taking the plunge. Their skin is a pale, brownish-grey color with darker spots. Killer great white sharks could head for BRITAIN after being drawn to "When you swim, swim with at least one other person - that's a good idea for general safety.". THERE ARE, if one likes the term "killer". Great White Shark 5. The attacks by blue shark are very rare, about two or three, whereas white shark attacks are at less 20 or more. On average, the Nursehound is about 4 feet long with females being slightly larger than the males. To inquire about a licence to reproduce material, visit our Syndication site. Other hunters that swim in the Med's temperate seas include the Angular roughshark, the Bigeye sixgill shark, the Blacktip shark, the Milk shark, the Smalltooth sandtiger shark and the Thresher shark. Theyll even go after other hammerhead sharks when they are hungry. In fact, makos are regularly mistaken for dolphins from a distance, because they can manage flips and twists in the air, and hit speeds of a whiz-by-without-seeing-them 45 miles per hour! Blue sharks have a high reproduction rate compared to other species of shark. Sharks live in all five of the worlds oceans (Pacific, Atlantic, Arctic, Indian, and Southern), as well as many of the seas connected to those oceans. When Hanson learns that this is the same monster Read all. And remember, you are over 3,000 times more likely to drown in the sea than be killed by a shark. However, this adds to the sad fact that the species is at risk for endangerment due to overfishing. Theyre especially common in the Eastern Med, around Israel and Egypt, after having migrated up from the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal. It is the largest island of the small archipelago south of Majorca which includes ten other islets. In reality, records show that there is an abundance of the Bignose Shark within the Mediterranean, but theyre considered to be harmless to beachgoers because of how far out they like to swim. Blue sharks are an open-ocean species that is known to visit in the summer months and is usually spotted more than 10 miles offshore. For those who actually want to see some sharks, listen up! Discover the most surprising facts about sharks. Malta Blue Grotto-Mellieha Bay-Great White Shark Malta And for anyone who accidentally sees one, not to worryThese sharks are not considered to be in any way dangerous to humans. It came after there was panic in the party resort ofMagaluf when a Blue shark was seen swimming just yards from paddling kids. Nicknamed the Mackerel Shark, the Porbeagle is a common sighting along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea because it is drawn to the Mackerel that swims around in shallow waters. They only grow up to 3 feet long and have slender bodies with a soft dorsal fin set back towards their tail. But if youre interested to know which sharks are the most common in the area, check out this list of the 16 most common sharks in the Mediterranean Sea. Over the years, though rare, occur signals for the presence of great white sharks off the coasts of Greece, Italy, Cyprus, mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands, France and others. The Thresher Shark uses its tail to whip fish around and stun them for an easy way to capture their meal, but they pose absolutely no threat to humans. It is important to note that even though there are a handful of sharks that pose a possible threat to humans, most sharks are relatively harmless and we pose a bigger risk to them than the other way around. British tourists' horror as '10ft SHARK' chases - The Sun Measuring in length more than 7 metres and weighing more than 3 tons, the female shark had recently given birth and inside its stomach they found a 2-metre blue shark, a 2.5 metre dolphin and a 70cm turtle. ", News Group Newspapers Limited in England No. Thats especially true when it comes to shark attacks. This was the first confirmed sighting in Spanish waters for at least 30 years, but there have been sightings elsewhere in the Mediterranean. Yannis added: "The Mediterranean has historically overfished sharks, and in general, population numbers are pretty low. There are nearly fifty types of sharks that live in the Mediterranean because of its tropical climate and abundance of hunting opportunities. In fact, the Angel Shark Conservation Network has created a regional plan in hopes of protecting the few angel sharks that remain in the Mediterranean Sea. . It is not uncommon a shark to cross the distance between the United States and Europe and then to be detected along the coast of Australia. Anyone who has seen a Sand Tiger Shark, whether it be in an aquarium or in open waters like the Mediterranean Sea, knows how ferocious they look but theyre actually pretty docile creatures. And then theres the small-spotted catshark, which likes shallower water, around reefs and sandy sea beds. Together they battle the beast in a dramatic fight for survival. Are there Sharks in the Mediterranean Sea? - journeyz.co All Rights Reserved. Shark injures 11-year-old snorkeller in attack off Exmouth in Western Australia. Their shrinking numbers are primarily due to habitat destruction (e.g., water pollution), global warming, and overfishing. The shark, seen near the inhabited island of Cabrera off southern Majorca, was spotted around 10am on Thursday morning. The victim of the shark attack this time became a fisherman. Great white shark ( Carcharodon carcharias ), though there were only 10 sightings between 1985 and 2015. The sharks found in the Mediterranean AS many as 46 types of shark can be found swimming in the balmy Mediterranean. When Hanson learns that this is the same monster that killed his wife, he teams up with attractive marine biologist Julia Bennett. We pay for videos too. Sharks are less likely to attack someone who is swimming with a group of people than someone who is swimming alone. Unfortunately, a large number of shark species are endangered. Thankfully, said attack mode is rarely unleashed on humans. As well as the Great White - which was spotted this week for the first time in 30 years - there are beasts that swimmers will not want to come across. When he's not crafting his next epic blog post on the top Greek islands or French ski resorts, he can often be found engaging in his top two hobbies of surfing and hiking. You can easily distinguish them by their stocky shape and spotted backs that make them look like the seas version of dalmatians. Italy has the highest number of unprovoked shark attacks in the Med, with only 26 incidents since 1900. One of the few documented incidents of a blue shark attack in the Mediterranean occurred in 2016, when one bit a mans hand. Another shark known for its deep-sea swimming, the Blue Shark is easily one of the most common sharks in the Mediterranean Sea but sightings are extremely rare. Mediterranean Shark Attacks - HubPages Finally, the great hammerheads is straight along the front. The Austrian woman had been swimming when she was attacked, losing a leg and an arm. But that is not to say that the Mediterranean is completely free from danger. The great white shark is most commonly . For starters, the Catshark grows to an average of 3 feet long with a few cases of adults reaching a length of 5 feet at maximum. THE chances of being attacked by a shark are extremely small - about 11,000,000-1 and that's in the Great White-plagued waters off the US. But with over half of their species now threatened or endangered, the sharks of the Mediterranean are actually considered the most at risk of all. Maybe they are reported as 'boating accidents. But most of them are completely harmless. View our online Press Pack. There are three species of catshark that call the Mediterranean home. The most deadliest shark in the medditeranean is the loan shark, they'll beat you to death if you don't pay them. The great white shark, which can reach over 6 meters in length and weight of between 2 and 2.5 tons, is fairly rare in Europe. However, when it comes to attacking marine life, all types of creatures are fair game. Although it can occur in any part of the Mediterranean, it is generally considered that great white sharks are not found in the Black Sea due to the lower water temperature in winter and the lack of larger prey. Great whites are one of the 46 species of shark said to lurk in the Mediterranean. Thousands upon thousands of people travel from all around the world for the opportunity to go for a swim in the crystal clear, turquoise waters that make up the Mediterranean Sea. Sharks almost primarily live in saltwater. marine biologist It comes after the world's fastest shark, a 15-foot beast, was spotted off the coast of Spain.. To date, 51 species of shark have been recorded in the Mediterranean Sea, including the deadly great white shark. Considered the most dangerous shark in the world, the great white is responsible for the most unprovoked attacks on humans, not to mention the most fatalities overall. The fearsome blue shark came into such shallow waters in pursuit of its prey, which was a school of small fish.