A great white shark has been spotted off the coast of Majorca, marking the first confirmed sighting in Spanish Mediterranean waters in over four decades. The shark was recorded by scientists from the conservation group Alnitak near the Cabrera archipelago.
The last confirmed sighting of a great white shark in the Balearic Islands was by a fisherman in 1976. Biologist and documentary maker Fernando López-Mirones, who was part of the team, described the encounter as significant, noting that while rumours of great whites in Spanish waters have persisted, documentation has been lacking for years.
The team observed the shark for approximately 70 minutes, coming within three metres of the boat. Great white sharks can weigh up to two tonnes, grow to lengths of 20 feet (six metres), and reach speeds of 40 kilometres per hour (25 miles per hour).
According to a 2007 documentary, 27 great whites were caught by fishermen around the Balearic Islands between 1920 and 1976. The recent sighting has reignited interest in the presence of these apex predators in the region.
