Great White Shark in the Adriatic – an Increasingly Rare Sight and Bad News for the Ecosystem

The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) has lived in the Adriatic and Mediterranean for centuries, but today it is rarely seen. A new study by Prof. Alen Soldo and Cemal Turan reveals that Mediterranean sharks belong to an isolated population genetically closest to Australian ones, making them critically endangered. Their numbers are declining, and they are now more often found in deeper, colder waters, following the bluefin tuna – their main prey. Climate change further influences these shifts.

Habitat Shift and Fewer Attacks

In the past, great whites were regularly recorded along the Balearic Islands, Malta, the Adriatic, and the Sea of Marmara. Today, sightings occur south of Sicily, in the Gulf of Gabes, and the Turkish Aegean. Their dependence on tuna migrations explains this change—once nearshore, now they follow tuna fishing in open waters.

The number of human attacks has also decreased significantly. In the eastern Adriatic, from 1868 until today, 71 sightings and 6 fatal attacks have been recorded, the last in 1974. Interestingly, no Croatian citizen has ever been a victim; the most recent attack, non-fatal, was recorded in 2008 near Vis when a Slovenian diver was bitten.

Data Issues and Call for Protection

A major issue lies in unreliable data, mostly based on random reports and frequent misidentifications with other shark species. Scientists therefore emphasize the urgent need for systematic monitoring and international cooperation.

Study Conclusion

The great white shark population in the Mediterranean is declining, but at the same time, their migration patterns are changing due to climate shifts and prey availability. Analyses show they avoid waters warmer than 18 °C, meaning the warming Adriatic may lose them entirely. The disappearance of this species would not only mean the loss of a marine icon but also a serious blow to the balance of the Mediterranean ecosystem.

Source: Index.hr