Great White Sharks Have Been in the Mediterranean Sea for Millions of Years—but Sightings Are Incredibly Rare

An encounter with a great white shark is undoubtedly a “thrilling” experience, considered especially rare in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The latest sighting, which has attracted media attention and made headlines around the world, occurred during a dive in the Strait of Sicily carried out by volunteers from Ghost Diving and Healthy Seas, organizations dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems.

The encounter was documented by diver Derk Remmers, who told the BBC that he struggled to switch on his camera because of the excitement. The footage—the first ever recorded of a great white shark in its Mediterranean Sea habitat—shows a huge adult male specimen of Carcharodon carcharias, a native species that is now considered critically endangered.

The Great White Shark

Carcharodon carcharias, commonly known as the great white shark, belongs to the Lamnidae family and is one of the largest predatory fish in existence. It can exceed 6 meters (20 feet) in length and weigh more than 2 tons. It feeds primarily on fish, including rays and other sharks, though adult individuals may also prey on marine mammals like seals and dolphins.

Equipped with an extremely keen sense of smell and excellent swimming abilities, the great white shark is considered one of the most efficient apex predators in the food chain. As such, it plays a crucial role in maintaining the balance of marine ecosystems by regulating the populations of its prey.

An Endangered Species

Found in temperate and subtropical waters throughout the world’s oceans, the great white shark has also inhabited the Mediterranean Sea for millions of years. Today, however, its population there has been drastically reduced, and sightings have become increasingly rare. Despite its reputation, attacks on humans are very uncommon. And the species is increasingly threatened by human activities, particularly accidental capture in fishing operations, illegal fishing, habitat loss, and the decline of its natural prey.

For this reason, Carcharodon carcharias is classified as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, while the Mediterranean population is considered the most precarious and is classified as critically endangered.

A Rare Encounter

Every documented sighting of a great white shark in the Mediterranean therefore represents a valuable opportunity, as it provides useful information for scientific research and conservation strategies for the species in a sea where its presence is now extremely rare. At the same time, this latest encounter can be interpreted as an encouraging sign for marine biodiversity and a reminder of the importance of continuing and strengthening conservation efforts in marine ecosystems, which are considered among the most fragile in the world.

“Much of our knowledge about great white sharks in the Mediterranean comes from dead specimens caught during fishing operations,” says Carlo Cattano, a researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn. “Observations like this are extremely valuable for improving our understanding of the distribution, habits, and behavior of this critically endangered species, whose survival is threatened by human activities. Our shark research has allowed us over time to identify several critical areas for threatened species, and this sighting is particularly significant in validating the conservation value of this area.”

This story originally appeared on WIRED Italia and has been translated from Italian.