Great white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea are in danger of disappearing, with illegal fishing contributing to their decline. This is according to research by US scientists, working in partnership with UK charity Blue Marine Foundation. They say some of the most threatened species - including great white sharks - are being sold in North African fish markets.
Great whites are one of more than 20 Mediterranean shark species protected under international law, meaning it is illegal to fish for them or to sell them. By monitoring fishing ports on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, researchers discovered that at least 40 great white sharks have been killed there in 2025 alone.
The BBC has also found, and independently verified, footage from social media of protected sharks being brought dead into North African ports. One video showed a large great white being hauled ashore from a fishing boat in Algeria. Another, filmed in Tunisia, shows heads and fins of what appears to be a short-finned mako shark, which is also a threatened and protected species, being prepared for sale.
Lead researcher, Dr Francesco Ferretti from Virginia Tech, explained that many shark populations - particularly white sharks - have< a href='https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/news/mediterranean-sharks-continue-to-decline-despite-conservation-progress' target='_blank'> declined dramatically in the Mediterranean in recent decades. No other stretch of water is fished like the Mediterranean Sea, he said, stressing the urgency of the issue. The Mediterranean white shark population is now classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.
Despite working for two weeks to locate and tag a white shark, researchers encountered disheartening results, capturing only a brief glimpse of one blue shark. It just shows how degraded this ecosystem is, Dr Ferretti stated.
In poorer communities in North Africa, fishers may be forced to prioritize their families' needs over conservation efforts. Experts argue that support and training in sustainable fishing practices are crucial to help reduce accidental catches of vulnerable shark species.
Conservation advocates believe that if Mediterranean nations collaborate, there remains a glimmer of hope for the recovery of this species, but cautioned that action must be taken swiftly.
