Just when you thought it was safe to return to the waters of Mare Nostrum.
Recent footage has surfaced showing a great white shark in the Mediterranean, possibly the first instance of this predator being captured on camera in these waters.
“Nothing prepares you for a moment like this,” said technical diver Derk Remmers, who recorded the stunning encounter. Dive Magazine shared the details.
Remmers was participating in a garbage collection effort in the Straits of Sicily. This initiative is associated with ghost divers, a charity collaborating with Healthy Seas and the Submerged Site Documentation Association to remove marine waste.
The shark approached the divers, swimming within nine feet of them while they worked to retrieve abandoned fishing nets and ghost nets from sunken ships in an area between the Boot River and Tunisia.
Fortunately, no one was harmed during this thrilling experience.
Rimmers described it as a “shock” and “surprise” when the “large animal” circled their group before vanishing into the depths. He mentioned how surreal it was to witness such a moment.
This encounter is notable as, although great white sharks have been seen near the surface of the Mediterranean, they have never been documented in this particular section. The species is recognized as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
“Statistically, you’re far more likely to win the lottery than to meet one of these iconic animals underwater,” Remmers pointed out. While such sightings are extraordinary, he emphasized the importance of their mission, which also involved removing the nets from the wrecked ship.
This unusual encounter highlights the ongoing impact of human activities in this region.
The shark was spotted in an area described as “an important biodiversity hotspot and one of the most heavily exploited fishing grounds in the Mediterranean,” according to Healthy Seas.
“Experiences like this remind us of the vibrant life still present off the Mediterranean coast and underscore the necessity of protecting it from avoidable risks like abandoned fishing gear and overfishing,” stated Veronica Mikos, the organization’s director.
During their cleanup, the team successfully collected most of the discarded nets, which they aim to dispose of responsibly or recycle when feasible.
Previous studies have noted loggerhead sea turtles and other large fish caught in lost fishing gear.
Rimmers estimates that annually, between 1% and 10% of global commercial fishing gear is lost, translating to “more than 500,000 tonnes” each year.
