The Hunt for the Great White Shark in Spanish Waters

What started as a series of rumors stemming from infrequent sightings off the coast of Spain has become a full-fledged search for one of the most dangerous marine predators in the world: the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias), immortalized in Steven Spielberg’s iconic film Jaws.

The Dawn of the Search

The hunt for the great white shark in Spanish waters began in June 2018 off the coast of Mallorca. Fifteen kilometers from the Balearic coast, biologist Ricardo Sagarminaga van Buiten waited to capture a long-awaited image: the dorsal fin of this gargantuan and notoriously lethal creature.

German media outlet Welt documented the research in a comprehensive report, highlighting the buzz generated by the publication of Sagarminaga’s hour-long footage. “Historical sighting of a great white shark in Balearic waters!” proclaimed the headline in all caps.

Absence of Sightings Since 2018

Despite the 2018 sighting, there have been no further reports of great white sharks in the Mediterranean. However, false alarms have occurred, such as the sighting of a blue shark that led to the evacuation of a beach in Menorca and the discovery of a dead grey shark on the Costa Blanca.

The rarity of the great white shark in these waters is supported by the lack of documented sightings. Other shark species, such as the dusky shark in the Mediterranean and the spiny dogfish in the Bay of Biscay, are more common.

International Scientific Collaboration

Undeterred by the absence of recent sightings, two international research teams, White Shark Chase and Ocearch Shark Tracker, will embark on expeditions this summer to track these elusive sharks. Ocearch Shark Tracker alone plans to cover an impressive 6,400 kilometers in the coming month.

Chris Fischer of Jacksonville University (USA), a member of one of the research teams, explains, “We’ve learned a lot about great white sharks on the U.S. East Coast, decoding patterns and understanding their rhythm of life. We want to bring this knowledge to Europe and the Mediterranean.”

Conclusion

The search for the great white shark in Spanish waters remains a captivating scientific endeavor, combining elements of mystery, danger, and the pursuit of knowledge. As researchers continue their expeditions, we may come closer to understanding the presence and behavior of this apex predator in the Mediterranean ecosystem.