A team of scientists on the trail of white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea – Great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) are iconic predators that ply the oceans, but in the Mediterranean Sea they are among the world’s rarest and most endangered populations. Historically present in abundance, today Mediterranean white sharks have almost disappeared, a situation that has worsened in recent centuries due to intensive fishing practices and industrial development in coastal areas. Their survival is at critical risk, and the scientific community is making great efforts to understand how to preserve these giants of the sea before it is too late.
Why is their situation so worrying?
According to the IUCN, the great white shark in the Mediterranean Sea is classified as Critically Endangered, the highest level of risk before extinction. Knowledge about how many great white sharks are left and how they live in the area, however, is limited, and this lack of information makes it difficult to plan for adequate protection. Habitat fragmentation and few food sources have isolated this population, reducing its numbers to alarming levels.
Between 2021 and 2023, a team of scientists organised expeditions to the Sicilian Channel to find and monitor these sharks. During the expeditions, 159 environmental DNA (eDNA) samples were collected and techniques such as bait cameras were used to attract and film possible sharks and other species. Although there were no direct sightings, white shark DNA was found in four key areas, suggesting that there are still some individuals present and active.
This discovery, reported in Frontiers of Marine Science, was crucial: it made it possible to identify one of the last refuges for this population and to initiate a multi-institutional programme for the conservation of white sharks in the Mediterranean. Planned initiatives include long-term monitoring to estimate how many white sharks remain and to better understand their ecology, from migration to distribution. This information will be key to designing an effective management and conservation plan that allows the Mediterranean population of white sharks to survive.
Protecting this charismatic species is important not only for the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, but also for the overall health of our marine ecosystem. Saving large predators like the white shark means maintaining the balance of all marine species, promoting a healthier and more resilient sea for future generations.
A team of scientists on the trail of white sharks in the Mediterranean
