A chilling video has captured the moment a large shark, bearing a striking resemblance to a great white, was spotted prowling near a popular holiday hotspot in Spain. The eerie figure was seen swimming towards a boat in the Bay of Palma, off the coast of Majorca, shocking sailors participating in a race.
Marine Biologist's Analysis Points to Juvenile Great White
Marine biologist Gader Muntaner, after speaking with Jacopo Rena who filmed the viral video and analysing additional images, believes the animal is a baby great white shark. She noted the shark was estimated to be around 8 feet 2 inches long, slightly longer than the 7-foot-2-inch board Rena was on.
"From its characteristics, robust body, colour pattern, keel, caudal fin, and type of behaviour, everything's pointing to the fact it could be a baby great white," Muntaner stated. She added that while she has long dreamed of seeing one in the Mediterranean, this isolated incident does not necessarily indicate population recovery.
Rare Sightings in Spanish Waters
This sighting adds to a small number of confirmed great white encounters in Spanish seas over recent decades. In February 2024, Spanish scientists confirmed that a shark unintentionally captured near Alicante on the Costa Blanca in April 2023 was a juvenile great white, measuring nearly seven feet long and weighing 80-90 kilos.
Another significant incident occurred in June 2015 when fishermen accidentally caught a great white over five meters long near Bolonia Beach in Tarifa. These occurrences remain exceptional given the species' critical status in the region.
Critical Endangerment in the Mediterranean
Great white sharks are critically endangered in the Mediterranean, where populations have declined by an estimated 70% over 40 years. Illegal fishing has been a major contributor to this dramatic decrease, threatening the balance of marine ecosystems.
"Recovering them is key to maintaining the balance of the marine ecosystem, so any sighting, of any type of shark, is always a good piece of news," Muntaner emphasized, highlighting the ecological importance of shark conservation.
Context of the Sighting
The latest shark encounter occurred during the 55th SAR Princess Sophia Trophy, a prestigious Olympic sailing regatta that serves as a global benchmark in the sport. The annual event brings together over 1,000 boats and 1,500 sailors across more than ten Olympic classes, running from March 27 to April 4 this year.
While great white sightings generate significant attention, most sharks causing concern on Spanish beaches in recent years have been blue sharks or tintoreras. These species have been responsible for incidents such as a 2016 attack on a holidaymaker in Elche near Alicante, where a 40-year-old victim required hospital treatment for hand injuries.
Tintoreras have also been spotted off popular beaches including Cala Domingos in Majorca and the Costa del Sol resort of Fuengirola, though these encounters typically involve less dangerous species than the great white.
