The Mediterranean’s deep blue waters made headlines as a rare juvenile great white shark, measuring an impressive four meters, was spotted near the Porquerolles Islands in the Port-Cros National Park earlier this month.
We’re going to need a bigger boat! Captured on video at Pointe du Sarranier, this extraordinary sighting marks the first confirmed presence of the species in the region since 2002.
Marine biologists from the National Museum of Natural History in Paris and the Groupe Phocéen d’Étude des Requins verified the footage, confirming it as a significant find. Historically elusive, great white sharks have been recorded in the Gulf of Lion only about 40 times since the 1600s, making this encounter a rare glimpse into the struggles of a species on the brink.
Oceanographer François Sarano lauded the sighting as both extraordinary and alarming. “Their presence is a testament to the resilience of nature, but it also underscores the perilous decline of their populations,” he noted. Once abundant, great white sharks in the Mediterranean now face critical threats from pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction, with their numbers plummeting to just 10% of their former strength.
Earlier this year, OCEARCH’s six-week expedition in the region revealed no traces of great whites, highlighting the fragility of this iconic predator. Listed as critically endangered on the European Red List, their survival hinges on urgent conservation efforts.
This awe-inspiring yet sombre encounter serves as a wake-up call. Without swift action, the Mediterranean’s apex predator may vanish entirely, leaving its marine ecosystem dangerously unbalanced.
Photo by Gerald Schömbs
