A diver encountered a massive Great White shark in the Mediterranean and managed to capture what is believed to be the first-ever underwater footage of an adult of this species in the region. Derk Remmers, along with two other divers, spotted the predator while removing abandoned fishing nets from a shipwreck in the Strait of Sicily, located between Italy and Tunisia.
The team, part of the NGO Healthy Seas, was in the process of recovering ghost nets when the shark made its appearance near the wreck. Remmers described the shark as huge and unmistakably a Great White shark.
This sighting is considered highly unusual as Great Whites are now considered critically endangered in the Mediterranean. While there have been occasional surface sightings of the species in the area, conservationists believe this could be the first documented underwater footage of an adult Great White filmed in its natural Mediterranean habitat by divers.
Remmers recounted the close encounter with the shark, mentioning how it swam near the wreck and even circled back towards them. Despite his trembling hands, he managed to film the encounter, expressing his fear of missing the opportunity to record such a rare event.
Emphasizing that the shark was far offshore and not a threat to beachgoers, Remmers hoped that the footage would not incite fear or calls for hunting the shark. He stressed the importance of understanding that the encounter took place in the central Mediterranean, away from populated coastal areas.
Notably, Great White sharks were more abundant in the Mediterranean in the past but have suffered a sharp decline due to overfishing and accidental entanglement in nets and fishing gear. The Shark Trust, a UK-based conservation organization, highlights the critical status of Great Whites in the Mediterranean, with the population facing challenges and sightings being extremely rare.
According to genetic evidence, the Great Whites in the Mediterranean constitute a distinct population from those found in the Atlantic. The presence of these sharks in the Straits of Sicily, as captured in the video, provides hope that these remarkable creatures are still managing to survive in the region despite the threats they face.
The waters between Sicily and North Africa serve as a crucial habitat for endangered species like Great Whites, with ongoing efforts needed to protect them. Research by the Blue Marine Foundation revealed that threatened sharks, including Great Whites, are still being caught and sold in fish markets in North African countries, such as Tunisia and Algeria.
The Mediterranean ecosystem is under immense strain from overfishing, rising sea temperatures, and invasive species, leading to the depletion of fish stocks beyond sustainable levels. Veronika Mikos, director of Healthy Seas, highlighted the significance of the shark encounter within the context of marine conservation efforts, emphasizing the rich biodiversity present in offshore Mediterranean waters.
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