Experts Say the Mediterranean Is Safe of Sharks Despite Recent Appearances
With several appearances being recorded, experts say that there is not much to be worried about, as there is more risk of dying while taking a selfie than it is to be eaten by a shark.
According to the local British media outlet Metro.co.uk, there were several sights of sharks in many popular destinations this summer, with the first one being recorded on June 15 in Aquamarina Beach in Orihuela Costa in the south of Alicante, Spain, AtoZSerwisPlus.com reports.
The Spanish island of Menorca was the second shark appearance recorded this summer, while the Independent.co.uk last month reported that a swimmer in Olivia, Valencia, was attacked by a shark.
Reports of shark appearances were also made in Portugal, Greece, and Croatia; however, the most severe shark attacks were reported in Egypt, where a 24-year-old Russian national lost his life after being attacked by the sea creature in June.
Three months later, a woman lost her arm due to a shark attack. Last year, two women lost their lives in a shark attack on the coast of Hurghada.
Due to the geographical proximity, it is understandable for tourists to be alerted that sharks can be found in Mediterranean waters, but as Alex Buttigieg, a researcher from Malta says, humans are not on the shark’s menu!
Experts Say There Is Nothing to Be Worried About
Shark appearances in the Mediterranean Sea might have become more frequent, but, in general, the number of attacks has been low.
Chrisos Taklis, a marine biologist and conservationist, says that no fatal shark attacks have been reported in this region in the past years and that the Mediterranean is one of the safest destinations regarding shark encounters worldwide.
Explaining for AtoZSerwisPlus.com the reasons that are related to this increased shark presence in the Mediterranean, Taklis points out that several factors have contributed to the phenomenon.
Another reason why sharks might have been particularly more visible on the shores recently is related to their natural instinct to pursue prey or even occasionally navigate in confusion. However, they are wanderers, so typically, they do not stay for long periods in these areas.
On the other hand, Buttigieg says that in the last 30 years, shark sightings have reduced by as much as 90 per cent, and consequently, there is no evident increase in the presence of sharks in this area.
Visit Portugal, the official website for tourism in Portugal has also noted that tourists to this country do not encounter such sea creatures, and in an e-mail exchange with SchengenVisaInfo, they reinstated that shark attacks are not an issue tourists usually face.
However, in another e-mail, they ensured that sharks in Portugal do not represent any danger to humans, although their previous statement might imply something else.
Tourism Ministries in countries such as Greece, Spain, and Italy were also contacted, but as of September 25, they have not responded.
Mediterranean Beaches Are Relatively Safe From Sharks’ Presence
Although shark appearances remain low, historically, there have been some incidents in Greece, which more than often were fatal. However, those were very rare, like one in every decade, and a study by Taklis, published in Greece’s Fisheries Journal, concludes that the risk of shark attacks in Greece is generally low, considering the low incidence.
Data from the Global Shark Attack File shows that two shark attacks were recorded in Europe in 2023, one in Spain and another in Portugal, both caused by white sharks. None of these incidents were fatal, but the victims ended up quite injured.
The last attacks recorded, previous to this one in 2023, were evident in 2020 in Spain, while another two incidents occurred in 2018 in Ireland and Italy. Between 2000 and 2023, 39 shark attacks were recorded in Europe, with only one case evident in 2014 being fatal. The victim was a male refugee and was headed to Lampedusa, Italy.
Shark Appearances Will Not Scare Tourists Away
Mirela Imamovic, an active traveller from Bosnia and Herzegovina, says she has never encountered any dangerous sea creatures during her visits to Croatia, France, or Italy, which she has all visited. She even points out that before being asked about this topic, she never thought about shark attacks in this area.
However, she says that she will be more careful now that she knows about sharks’ presence in these waters, but this will not discourage her from carrying out her trips.
Similarly, Ralph Meyer, a traveller from the Netherlands who enjoys visiting Mediterranean countries, says that his encounters with ocean dwellers have been limited, especially in this area, but if he knew that there were sharks nearby, he would be more cautious about swimming.
Swimming in Shark-Populated Waters: Here’s What You Should Know
The Mediterranean is believed to have around 50 species of sharks in its waters, and the best way to protect swimmers from coastal wildlife is to educate them.
Taklis noted that in order to be safe, aquatic enthusiasts must stay within the proximity of the shoreline, always be accompanied by someone when swimming, and avoid swimming during the nighttime hours.
On top of that, Buttigieg would add that swimmers should avoid splashing unnecessarily when swimming as it may give the impression of wounded prey. Dusk is not the perfect time to swim either because that’s the time when sharks go hunting, he says.
Buttigieg also notes that there is not really any efficient way that could prevent sharks from swimming to the shores – at least none that cannot affect other marine creatures or the ecosystem. The most recent tests with ‘magnetic barriers’ can cause damage to other creatures besides sharks, and their efficiency is not as high since some sharks can even swim through such barriers as well.
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