Great White Fish Have Lived in the Mediterranean Sea for Millions of Years—But Sightings Are Rare

To meet with a a big shark Undoubtedly, it is an “exciting” event, considered rare in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The latest sighting, which has attracted the attention of the media and headlines around the world, happened during a dive in the Strait of Sicily by volunteers from Ghost Diving and. Healthy Oceansorganizations dedicated to protecting marine ecosystems.

The meeting was recorded by Derk Remmers, who he said BBC that he had trouble turning on his camera because of the excitement. Video – the first recording of a great white Shark in its habitat in the Mediterranean Sea – it shows a great masculine image of Species of Carcharodonspecies that are now considered critically endangered.

Great White Shark

Species of CarcharodonAlso known as the white shark, it belongs to the Lamnidae family and is one of the largest fish in existence. It can grow to over 6 meters (20 feet) in length and weigh over 2 tons. It mainly eats fish, including rays and other sharks, although adults can also eat marine animals such as seals and dolphins.

With its excellent sense of smell and excellent swimming ability, the great white shark is known as one of the fastest predators of food. Therefore, it contributes significantly to the sustainability of the aquatic ecosystem by controlling the number of prey animals.

Endangered Species

Found in warm and tropical waters around the world, the great white shark has also inhabited the Mediterranean Sea for millions of years. But nowadays, the number of people there has decreased a lot, and people don’t seem to be very poor. Despite its history, attacks on humans are rare. And these species are increasingly threatened by human activities, particularly bycatch in fishing grounds, illegal fishing, habitat loss, and the decline of prey animals.

For this reason, Species of Carcharodon it is classified as insecure on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List, while the Mediterranean population is considered the most dangerous and is listed as critically endangered.

A Strange Encounter

Every written record of the great white shark in the Mediterranean Sea offers a unique opportunity, because it provides useful information for scientific research and ways to protect the species in the sea where its availability is not available. At the same time, this recent encounter can be interpreted as an encouraging sign for marine life and a reminder of the need to continue and strengthen the protection of marine ecosystems, which are considered to be the most fragile in the world.

Carlo Cattano, a researcher at the Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, said: “Most of what we know about whitefish in the Mediterranean Sea comes from animals that are caught by fishing. “Observations like this are very important to better understand the distribution, habits, and behavior of this endangered species, whose existence is threatened by human activities.”

This article appeared first WIRED Italy and translated from Italian.