Great white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea are on the verge of extinction. According to the findings of American scientists, who worked together with the British environmental organization Blue Marine Foundation, the main threat to these predators remains illegal fishing, reports the BBC.
Illustrative photo
Researchers report that in 2025 alone, no fewer than 40 great white sharks were killed off the coast of North Africa. Although this species, like more than twenty other species of Mediterranean sharks, is under international protection and its catch and sale are prohibited, sharks continue to appear in local markets.
Journalists verified videos from social media and confirmed their authenticity: the footage shows dead sharks being unloaded in North African fishing ports. In Algeria, for example, the delivery of a great white shark was recorded, and in Tunisia, the preparation for sale of parts of a mako shark, which is also endangered.
The head of the study, marine biologist Francesco Ferretti from Virginia Tech University, notes that the number of sharks in the Mediterranean Sea, especially white sharks, has catastrophically decreased in recent decades. According to him, no other marine region in the world experiences such intensive industrial fishing. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Mediterranean population of the great white shark as 'critically endangered'.
This year, scientists tried to find sharks in the strait between Sicily and Tunisia, which is considered one of the last refuges for rare species. For two weeks, they used bait, underwater cameras, and DNA analysis in seawater, but were only able to detect one blue shark. No great white sharks were found.
At the same time, the research group received new data on the deaths of white sharks in North African fishing areas, including near the study sites. Scientists emphasize that such losses are particularly dangerous for an already very small population.
Ecologists point out that, despite international prohibitions, the level of shark protection varies significantly across different countries, and the problem of accidental catch remains unresolved. In poor coastal communities, fishermen are often forced to choose between conserving rare species and the necessity of earning a living.
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