It’s dawn on the Sicilian coast. The sea lies still, barely breathing. Somewhere below, a shape
glides past a Posidonia meadow – a quiet flash of silver, ancient and electric. Most people
wouldn’t think of the Mediterranean as shark territory, but they’d be wrong. These waters are
home to some of the most fascinating and misunderstood animals on Earth.
For millions of years, sharks have patrolled the Mediterranean Sea. They are not intruders – they
are natives. And not just a few: over 80 species of sharks and rays have been recorded here.
From graceful threshers to elusive hammerheads, and even some of the largest great white sharks
ever measured, the Mediterranean is far more alive than we think. Or at least, it was.
A Sea of Decline
Today, the Mediterranean is one of the most dangerous places in the world to be a shark. More
than half of its shark and ray species are threatened with extinction. Industrial fishing, bycatch,
habitat destruction, and illegal sales are pushing them to the edge. Some, like the blue shark,
have declined by over 95%. Others, like the sand tiger shark, may already be gone.
Much of the damage is silent. Sharks are caught in longlines and trawls. They’re often mislabelled
and sold in markets across southern Europe – sometimes as swordfish, sometimes as
“anonymous” fillets. And even in supposedly protected zones, enforcement is weak. The result:
ecosystems thrown out of balance, and ancient predators vanishing in a sea that forgets them.
The Good News: They’re Still Here
Shark populations are struggling. But they are not gone.
You can still find blue sharks off the coast of Italy and Malta – fast, elegant, glowing cobalt in the
open sea. Shortfin makos, the cheetahs of the ocean, are out there too, dashing through the
deep. In the Adriatic and Aegean, tope sharks and angel sharks make rare but magical
appearances. And then there’s the giant – the great white shark. Most people associate it with South Africa or
Australia, but the Mediterranean has its own lineage of white sharks. In fact, some of the largest
individuals ever recorded – over 6 metres long – have been sighted here. Genetic studies suggest
they form a distinct population, possibly isolated for thousands of years. Off the coast of Sicily
and Tunisia, these apex predators still haunt the deep, and eDNA is confirming what old sailor
tales never forgot: they never really left.
A New Wave of Protection
The tide is slowly turning. Across the region, scientists, NGOs, and fishers are working together to
protect what remains and rebuild what’s been lost.
The EU LIFE European Sharks project, launched in 2023, is creating new tools to reduce bycatch,
map shark habitats, and raise public awareness. Blue Marine Foundation is helping expand
protected zones and monitor key nursery areas – especially around seagrass meadows and coral
reefs. Citizen science and eDNA sampling are helping uncover hidden shark populations and
confirm sightings, including of juvenile great whites.
Divers, chefs, and schools are getting involved too – proving that conservation isn’t just about
policy, but about culture, education, and care.
What You Can Do
Eat mindfully – say no to shark meat, and ask where your fish comes from. Report your sightings;
every photo, dive log, and eDNA sample can support conservation. Support marine protected
areas, specially in hotspots like the Sicilian Channel, Balearic Islands, and Aegean Sea. And help
us tell their stories, help rewrite the shark narrative. They’re not monsters – they’re guardians.The Shark as a Symbol of Hope
Sharks are not invaders in the Mediterranean – they are survivors. Their presence is not a threat,
but a promise: that this sea still holds wildness. Still holds mystery.
They are vulnerable. But they are also resilient. Given space, time, and respect, they can return.
The Mediterranean can once again become a place where sharks flourish – not just in the
shadows, but in our imagination, in our policies, and in our future.
Let’s remember them. Let’s protect them. And let’s make the Mediterranean wild again.
an article by Malia Lukl, photos by Sabine M. Probst Saavedra