Noteworthy Elasmobranch Records from Mediterranean and European Waters – July to September 2019
Helmut Nickel (mail), Shark Year Magazine,
published on 08. October 2019
The following list provides a supplement and continuation of our previous post from 01. July 2019 Noteworthy Shark Records from Mediterranean and European Atlantic Waters – February to June 2019
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Details on each specimen in descending chronological order:
Although all entries have been carefully checked, we cannot guarantee for the accuracy of the sources used. In most cases, the provided length/weight data of the sharks are just based on rough estimates.
Specimen No. 1
Date: reported on 30. September 2019
Location: Himara, Albania
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus).
Size: said to be 2 metres in length, 100 kg in weight.
Source and Photo credit: kohajone
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Specimen No. 2
Date: reported on 23. September 2019
Location: Turkey
Species: Guitarfish (Rhinobatos spec.)
Size: ca. 4 kg in weight.
According to the source, a record from the Mediterranean Sea (without naming a specific location). The specimen was displayed at a fish market in Kahramanmaraş.
Source and Photo credit: aksutvhaber
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Specimen No. 3
Date: reported on 22.09.2019
Location: Huelva, Andalusia, Spain.
Species: Copper shark, aka Bronze whaler (Carcharhinus brachyurus)
Size: estimated over 200kg in weight.
A record from the Gulf of Cádiz (south-western Spain, Atlantic Ocean).
Recreational fishermen caught and released this Carcharinid shark.
It’s a male specimen. The catch was recorded on video.
Specimen No. 5 was reportedly caught on the same fishing trip.
Source and Photo Credit: Fortes Fishing
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Specimen No. 4
Date: reported on 19. September 2019
Location: Turkey
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus).
Size: said to be 3 metres long, 90 kg in weight.
A fishmonger from Kastamonu city obtained this specimen in Kocaeli Province.
Source and Photo credit: haber1461.
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Specimen No. 5
Date: reported on 18. September 2019
Location: Huelva, Andalusia, Spain.
Species: Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)
Size: not reported.
A record from the Gulf of Cádiz (south-western Spain, Atlantic Ocean).
This female specimen was caught and released by recreational fishermen.
The catch of Specimen No. 3 allegedly occurred during the same fishing trip.
Source and Photo Credit: Fortes Fishing
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Specimen No. 6
Date: reported on 10. September 2019
Location: Erdek, Balıkesir Province, Turkey.
Species: Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)
Size: said to be 4 metres in length.
A record from the Sea of Marmara.
This female thresher shark was released alive after being rescued from a fishing net.
Source and Photo credit: malatyaguncel
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Specimen No. 7
Date: 25. August 2019
Location: off Esbjerg, Denmark
Species: Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Size: estimated to be 8 metres in length (another source: 5 metres).
A record from the North Sea.
The basker was spotted and filmed by workers of the South Arne oil drilling platform.
This offshore platform is situated about 240 km off Esbjerg in southwest Denmark.
Interesting observation:
At the end of the video-clip, a large fish (most likely a bluefin tuna) appears close to the surface shortly behind the basking shark. The scene is pictured in the screenshot below. The full video can be viewed here: Link
Source: TV2. Photo Credit: Peter Winther
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Specimen No. 8
Date: reported on 24. August 2019
Location: Sazan Island, Albania.
Species: Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)
Size: said to be 3,30 metres in length, ca, 200 kg in weight.
A record from the southern part of the Adriatic Sea.
According to the source, the thresher shark was caught in the waters
north of Sazan Island, and outside the Bay of Vlorë.
Source and Photo credit: panorama
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Specimen No. 9
Date: reported on 23. August 2019
Location: Arbus, Sardinia, Italy
Species: Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Size: said to be under 2 metres long.
The juvenile specimen was fished off the coast of Porto Palma, located in the Arbus municipality in the Province of South Sardinia.
According to the source, the catch occurred a few days prior August 23rd.
Source and Photo credit: cagliaripad
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Specimen No. 10
Date: reported on 22. August 2019
Location: Canakkale Province, Turkey.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Size: said to be 5 metres in length
The large specimen got entangled in a fishing net in the waters of the Dardanelles (Canakkale).
The catch was made by a commercial fisherman from Babakale village.
Source and Photo credit: rehbercanakkale
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Specimen No. 11
Date: reported on 19. August 2019
Location: Andora, Liguria Region, Italy.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Size: said to be 2,30 metres long and ca. 300 kg in weight.
A record from the Ligurian Sea.
The specimen was found dead entangled in a fishing net
off the coast of Andora (near Capo Mele).
Source and Photo credit: ligurianotizie
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Specimen No. 12
Date: reported on 15. August 2019
Location: Demre District, Antalya Province, Turkey.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Size: said to be ca. 3 metres long.
A record from the southern coast of Turkey.
A group of Russian tourists hooked and landed
this shark during a trip to Kekova Island.
After a few minutes, the shark was released back into the sea
(hook was reportedly removed).
Source and Photo credit: aksam
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Specimen No. 13
Date: reported on 14. August 2019
Location: Skagen, Denmark
Species: Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)
Size: said to be 3 metres long, 198 kg in weight.
A commercial fishing vessel landed this specimen while fishing for sprat.
According to the source, the catch occurred off Skagen,
which is Denmark’s northernmost town.
Source and Photo credit: ekstrabladet
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Specimen No. 14
Date: reported on 06. August 2019
Location: Ponza, Province of Latina, Lazio Region, Italy.
Species: presumably Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Size: not reported.
A record from the Tyrrhenian Sea.
The catch occurred in the morning of Aug 6th in the waters off Ponza,
which is the largest of the Pontine Islands.
Source and Photo credit: latinapress
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Specimen No. 15
Date: 31. July 2019
Location: Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Size: about 2 metres in length.
This specimen was caught close to shore
(allegedly only 15 to 20 metres from the beach)
in Kyrenia, a city on the northern coast of Cyprus.
Source and Photo credit: ajanscyprus
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Specimen No. 16
Date: reported on 27. July 2019
Location: Catania, Sicily, Italy.
Species: Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Size: ca. 5 kg in weight.
A record from the east coast of Sicily Island.
A “dozen of small sharks” were netted by a commercial fisherman
while operating near Ognina, in Catania, not far from shore.
The “biggest” specimen weighed about 5 kg and
was photographed by the captain of the vessel.
Source: newsicilia. Photo credit: Mario Platania.
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Specimen No. 17
Date: reported on 23. July 2019
Location: Pescara, Abruzzo Region, Italy
Species: Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Size: not reported, but small juvenile.
A record from the Adriatic Sea.
This juvenile specimen was spotted (not hooked) by recreational fishermen
about 12 miles off the coast of Pescara.
Photo credit goes to Jacopo Ippoliti.
Source: abruzzoweb
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Specimen No. 18
Date: reported on 23. July 2019
Location: Gulf of Trieste, Italy.
Species: Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)
Size: ca. 4 metres in length
A record from the northern part of the Adriatic Sea.
This thresher was caught (and released alive)
during a recreational tuna fishing trip.
Source and Photo credit: RaiNews
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Specimen No. 19
Date: reported on 23. July 2019
Location: Plataria, Thesprotia, Epirus region, Greece.
Species: Bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus)
Size: said to be ca. 3 metres in length.
A record from the Ionian Sea (western coast of Greece).
Source and Photo credit: PamePreveza.
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Specimen No. 20
Date: reported on 22. July 2019
Location: Hunnebostrand, Västra Götaland County, Sweden
Species: Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus)
Size: 3,35 metres long, 150 cm girth, estimated 260 to 285 kg.
A record from the Skagerrak.
This specimen was caught and released by recreational fishermen
during a night fishing trip. The shark got hooked in a depth of ca. 430 metres,
northwest of Hunnebostrand.
According to the source, this specimen has been confirmed
as the new Swedish fishing record for this species.
Source: aftonbladet. Photo credit: Magnus Durell
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Specimen No. 21
Date: reported on 19. July 2019
Location: 100 miles south-west of Ireland
Species: Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena)
Size: –
More Info: Hammerhead shark spotted in Irish waters
Source and Photo credit: Marine Institute Ireland.
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Specimen No. 22
Date: reported on 13. July 2019
Location: Crete Island, Greece.
Species: Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Size: not reported (but small/juvenile).
The catch reportedly occurred off the coast of Amoudara
(northern coast of Crete).
Source and Photo credit: anatolh online.
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Specimen No. 23
Date: 11. July 2019
Location: Yedidalga, Lefke distict, Northern Cyprus.
Species: Sixgill shark (Hexanchus spec.)
Size: said to be 125 kg in weight.
Source and Photo credit: kibrisgazetesi.
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Specimen No. 24
Date: reported on 07. July 2019
Location: Kepez, Çanakkale, Turkey.
Species: Stingray (Dasyatidae family).
Size: see comment below.
A spearfisherman encountered and filmed this very large stingray
while diving in the strait of Dardanelles.
Regarding the size of the specimen, the diver made the following comment:
“… about 3 meters tall and 100 kilograms in weight
and its tail is thicker than my arm.”
Sources: DHA, trthaber. Photo credit: Müjdat Turan.
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