In a concerning development, researchers have found that the great white shark population in the Mediterranean Sea is in grave danger of extinction. According to a study conducted by scientists from the US and the UK’s Blue Marine Foundation, illegal fishing practices are contributing to the rapid decline of this iconic species, as well as other threatened shark species in the region.
The researchers, led by Dr. Francesco Ferretti from Virginia Tech University, have discovered that at least 40 great white sharks were killed in the Mediterranean’s North African coastal areas in 2025 alone. This is a significant blow to a population that is already classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
The team’s efforts to track and study the remaining great white sharks in the region have been challenging. During a two-week expedition in the Strait of Sicily, which has been identified as a “last stronghold” for several threatened shark species in the Mediterranean, the researchers were unable to find any great whites to tag with satellite tracking devices – a first for the region.
“It’s disheartening,” Dr. Ferretti told the BBC. “It just shows how degraded this ecosystem is.”
The researchers’ findings are corroborated by independent investigations conducted by the BBC Forensics team and James Glancy from the Blue Marine Foundation. They have uncovered footage on social media of protected shark species, including great whites and short-finned makos, being brought ashore and offered for sale in fish markets in Tunisia and Algeria.
“The impact of industrial fishing has been intensifying… and it’s plausible that they will go extinct in the near future,” Dr. Ferretti warned.
The rules and regulations designed to protect these shark species are often complicated and inconsistently enforced across the region. While the EU and 23 Mediterranean nations have signed an agreement prohibiting the retention, landing, and sale of 24 threatened shark species, the enforcement of these measures varies greatly from country to country.
Conservationists and scientists argue that more needs to be done to support local fishing communities and provide them with sustainable alternatives to ensure the survival of these endangered shark populations. Sara Almabruk from the Libyan Marine Biology Society points out that most of the catches in North African waters are accidental, and fishermen may feel compelled to keep the sharks to feed their families.
“If you support them and train them in more sustainable fishing, they will not catch white sharks – or any shark,” she said.
James Glancy from the Blue Marine Foundation remains cautiously optimistic, stating that “there is hope” if the countries around the Mediterranean work together to protect these vital marine ecosystems. However, he emphasizes that “we’ve got to act very quickly” to prevent the great white shark and other threatened species from disappearing from the Mediterranean for good.