A team of volunteer divers captured rare images of an adult great white shark underwater in the Mediterranean Sea. The animal was spotted between Sicily and Tunisia, several kilometers from the coast, during an operation to remove abandoned fishing nets.
The meeting took place in May, near a shipwreck where old nets, also known as “ghost nets”, were trapped. Such equipment continues to pose a threat to marine life long after it has been lost or abandoned.
According to the organization Healthy Seas, cited by , the team documented what they believe to be the first underwater footage of an adult great white shark in the Mediterranean, in its natural habitat. The animal, presumably an adult male, was observed at a depth of approximately 40 meters.
Rare encounter during operation at sea
The operation was being carried out by divers linked to the protection of the oceans, in an area considered important for marine biodiversity. The initial objective was not to film sharks, but rather to remove abandoned fishing nets stuck on the seabed.
During the dive, the team was surprised by the presence of the great white shark. The animal approached the divers and it was possible to capture images underwater, something extremely unusual in this region.
Derk Remmers, the diver who filmed the moment, described the encounter as very special. In an interview with the BBC, he said that the shark was very close to the team and that he felt his fingers tremble as he tried to turn on the camera.
The diver further explained that his biggest fear, at that moment, was not being able to record the event. The footage ended up becoming a rare document about the presence of the species in the central Mediterranean.
Animal was far from the beaches
Despite the impact of the images, the divers made a point of leaving a message of tranquility. The shark was spotted in the high seas, far from bathing areas and without posing a direct threat to bathers.
Derk Remmers told The Telegraph that he hopes the images do not cause panic or calls to capture the animal. For the diver, it is important to emphasize that the encounter took place in the central Mediterranean, in an area far from the coast.
The presence of great white sharks in the Mediterranean is not new, but sightings are rare and underwater footage is even more difficult to obtain. Therefore, the record gained international prominence.
Experts and environmental organizations have warned that these animals play an important role in the balance of marine ecosystems. Their presence may be a sign of biodiversity, although the species is under severe pressure.
Can you arrive in Portugal?
The question may arise after the images are released, but there is no indication that this specimen is approaching the Portuguese coast. The shark was filmed between Sicily and Tunisia, in an area far from Portugal and in the middle of the central Mediterranean.
Still, the great white shark is a highly mobile species and can travel long distances. Its presence in European waters is part of the species’ natural distribution, although encounters are uncommon.
In Portugal, the occurrence of large sharks in the Atlantic should not be seen as something impossible, but it should also not be a cause for alarm. Most of these animals live far from the coast and avoid contact with people.
Therefore, the sighting in the Mediterranean should be understood above all as a relevant scientific and environmental record, and not as a sign of imminent danger for Portuguese beaches.
Threatened species in the Mediterranean
The waters between Sicily and North Africa are considered one of the last refuges for several threatened species, including the great white shark. However, human pressure has put these animals at risk.
In the Mediterranean, the great white shark has been brought close to extinction due to overfishing, illegal fishing and accidental capture in trawl nets. Many specimens end up trapped in fishing gear intended for other species.
In some cases, captured sharks are sold in fish markets in North African countries, such as Tunisia and Algeria. Environmental organizations advocate greater protection of these areas and more effective monitoring.
The encounter filmed by the divers therefore ends up having a double reading. On the one hand, it shows the rare presence of one of the largest marine predators in the Mediterranean; another, reminds us of the urgency of protecting the habitats where these animals still survive.
Images draw attention to ghost networks
In addition to the great white shark, the operation highlighted another serious problem: fishing nets abandoned at sea. Known as ghost nets, they continue to capture fish, turtles, seabirds and other animals even after they are no longer used.
These nets can get stuck in shipwrecks, rocks or seabeds for years, causing damage to ecosystems and putting several species at risk. Its removal is one of the tasks carried out by teams of volunteer divers in different areas of the world.
In this case, the mission ended up revealing an unexpected and rare encounter. Images of the great white shark in the Mediterranean became an opportunity to talk not only about the species, but also about the need to protect the sea.
Far from being a reason for fear, the record shows the importance of getting to know these animals better and preserving the ecosystems where they can still live.
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