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The Pressure of Illegal Fishing and Sales in Markets Put the Species on Max Alert and Expose Failures in Protection in the Mediterranean
The possibility of the disappearance of great white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea has gained strength with the confirmation of recent deaths linked to fishing activities.
The scenario involves illegal fishing, capture in nets, and the presence of protected species being sold in the North of Africa.
In 2025, at least 40 great white sharks were identified as dead in fishing ports along the North African Mediterranean coast, a heavy toll for a population in a critical situation.
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What Happened and Why It Gained Attention
The great white shark is one of the shark species in the Mediterranean covered by international protection, making it illegal to fish or sell these animals.
Despite the regulations, monitoring in the ports and markets of the North of Africa found clear signs of offloading and sale.
Images on social media also showed protected sharks arriving dead at ports, reinforcing the extent of the problem.
Why the Mediterranean Became a Critical Zone for Sharks
The populations of sharks in the Mediterranean, particularly the white shark, have been declining sharply in recent decades.
The pressure is fueled by an environment of intense fishing, with increasing impact from industrial fishing.
This context raises the risk of regional disappearance in the near future, especially for species with low abundance.
The Last Bastion in the Strait of Sicily
The Strait of Sicily, between Sicily and the North of Africa, is regarded as one of the most important points for threatened species in the Mediterranean.
The area has been described as the last bastion for several sharks, as it still concentrates records and conditions for their presence.
Searching for living individuals in the region has become a priority to try to understand routes, habits, and points of greater risk.
The Search for Satellite Tracking That Did Not Find the Target
One of the goals was to install a satellite tracking tag on a white shark, something that had not yet been done in the Mediterranean.
To attract animals, over three tons of bait were used, including a container of frozen mackerel and tuna scraps.
Additionally, 500 liters of tuna oil were added to create a scent trail in the sea, along with underwater cameras and water samples to search for shark DNA.
Even after two weeks of effort, no white sharks appeared for tagging, and the cameras only recorded a brief contact with a blue shark.
Protected Sharks in Ports and Markets of North Africa
Reports and checks indicated protected sharks being caught, offloaded, and sold in countries like Tunisia and Algeria.
A video showed a large white shark being pulled from a boat to the shore in Algeria.
Another recording, filmed in Tunisia, displayed heads and fins of what appeared to be a shortfin mako, a threatened and protected species, prepared for sale.
What Are the Rules, Deadlines, and Conditions
International rules protect threatened shark species in the Mediterranean, including 24 species with legal protection.
An agreement signed by the European Union and 23 Mediterranean countries prohibits keeping on board, transshipping, offloading, transferring, storing, selling, displaying, or offering for sale these species.
The rule also provides that animals should be returned to the sea alive and unharmed whenever possible, although enforcement varies among countries and accidental capture remains a sensitive point.
What May Happen from Now On
In poorer communities in the North of Africa, catching sharks may become a direct dilemma between income and preservation.
There are indications that a large portion of the catches occur accidentally, but economic pressure may maintain the cycle of offloading and sale.
The outlook for recovery depends on swift action and cooperation among Mediterranean countries, as well as support and training for more sustainable fishing practices.
The Mediterranean remains an area of alert for the great white shark, with at least 40 recorded deaths in 2025 along the North African coast.
If illegal fishing pressure is not reduced and enforcement of the rules is not improved, the risk of regional disappearance rises, with a direct impact on the balance of the marine ecosystem.
É triste saber que uma criatura tão magnífica como o grande-tubarão-branco esteja tão severamente ameaçado nas águas do Mar Mediterrâneo. 😔
Tubarões são extremamente importantes para o equilíbrio dos ecossistemas marinhos, suas reduções populacionais terão um catastrófico impacto ambiental nos oceanos.
Sou pescador esportivo , acho um absurdo tudo isso , e o pior e que não tem um órgão mundial que sendo unificado, obrigaria todos países do mundo interagirem na defesa desse maravilhoso **** que dependemos tanto deles para o controle do eco sistema
Prefiro comer um tubarão branco do que ser comido por um!
Vários cientistas apontam que a extinção dos dinossauros foi a melhor coisa que aconteceu para os mamíferos, não se pode nadar no mar em segurança de não ser atacado por um tubarão touro ou seja lá qual espécie for, se for pra estinguir predadores seja na fauna ou no mar que seja ! Sempre haverá caçadores de prontidão para estabilizar o equilíbrio da vida selvagem nunca que haveria desequilíbrio nós humanos somos capazes de substituir qualquer predador matador de seres humanos!
Lamentável
Só abre a boca p falar ****
Tá cheio de predadores governando o País. Eles comeram toda a picanha.
E só vc começar a comer tubarão
??? Vc é ****
Vc é um ****
Volte pra escola, cara.
Para ter comentado tamanha barbaridade, tu só pode ter **** na cabeça! 🖕😠