TL:DR – “Breeding Great White Sharks Discovered in the Mediterranean Sea | Latest News”
- A juvenile great white shark was accidentally caught off Spain’s eastern coast in April 2023, reigniting interest in potential breeding in the Mediterranean.
- Previously thought extinct in the region, scientists see this discovery as evidence of surviving “ghost” populations.
- Lead researcher Dr José Carlos Báez highlights the ecological role of great whites, emphasising the need for conservation strategies for this vulnerable species.
- Ongoing monitoring and tracking are essential to understand their biology in the Mediterranean.
Great White Sharks could be breeding in the Mediterranean | News World
The juvenile great white shark, which was caught in the Mediterranean in April 2023 (Picture: Báez et al/Cover Images)
Scientists believe great white sharks may be breeding in the Mediterranean after a juvenile was found by fishermen off the eastern coast of Spain.
The creature, which was about 210cm long and weighed between 12st 8lb and 14st 2lb (80kg to 90kg), was accidentally captured in April 2023.
Breeding populations of great whites were thought to have disappeared from the Mediterranean some time ago, so the discovery of a young shark led scientists to investigate.
They concluded that while the species remains a so-called “ghost” population in the region, it has not disappeared altogether.
The find has led scientists to reexamine records of great whites in the region over the last 160 years (Picture: Báez et al/Cover Images)
Lead researcher Dr. José Carlos Báez said: ‘Determining the presence of juvenile individuals is of particular importance.
‘The occurrence of juvenile specimens raises the question of whether active reproduction may be occurring in the region.’
Great white sharks gained notoriety in popular culture after Steven Spielberg’s classic Jaws broke box office records in 1975.
They are most commonly found off the coasts of Australia, South Africa, and off the west coast of the US. Sightings in the Mediterranean are rare.
Dr. Báez and his team examined records dating from 1862 to 2023 to understand the species’ history and habits within the region.
‘The main idea I want to convey to the public is that these large marine animals have a fundamental role in marine ecosystems,’ Dr. Báez said.
‘As highly migratory pelagic species, they redistribute energy and nutrients across vast distances. They serve as nature’s scavengers – by consuming carrion, they keep ecosystems clean.
‘Even in death, their descent to the seafloor provides a critical pulse of nourishment for deep-sea communities.’
The investigation team says the species, which is under threat, is considered a crucial part of marine life (Picture: Báez et al/Cover Images)
Great whites are listed as a vulnerable species, and their numbers continue to decline.
Scientists involved in the study stressed that long-term monitoring programs are essential to understanding the biology of great white sharks in the Mediterranean.
They said combining occasional sightings with modern tracking techniques could help develop effective conservation strategies for the apex predator.
The team’s findings have been published in the open-access journal Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria.