Noteworthy Shark Records from Mediterranean and European Atlantic Waters – February to June 2019
Helmut Nickel (mail), Shark Year Magazine, published on 01. July 2019
After a long break, we have decided to resume our summary of large and/or rare sharks recorded in waters of the Mediterranrean/European region ( our previous related post: Elasmobranch records, May 2014 to October 2014 ).
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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. June 2019
Location: Villa San Giovanni, Calabria Region, Italy.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus).
Size: not reported
A record from the Strait of Messina.
The mutilated shark carcass (caudal fin, teeth missing) was discovered in the waters off Cannitello.
Source and Photo credit: lacnews24, Noi di Calabria
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Specimen No. 2
Date: reported on 26. June 2019
Location: Fethiye, Muğla Province, Turkey.
Species: Bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus).
Size: said to be 4 metres in length, 400 kg in weight.
A record from the southern Aegean region of Turkey.
According to the source, the catch occurred in the early morning hours off Kızılada (an island situated in the Fethiye Bay).
This large thresher shark was caught by the same fishing vessel (on the same fishing trip) as Specimen No. 3. Both specimens were transported to the İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University for research purposes.
Source and Photo credit: DHA
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Specimen No. 3
Date: reported on 26. June 2019
Location: Fethiye, Muğla Province, Turkey.
Species: Mako shark (Isurus spc.)
Size: said to be 4 metres in length, 400 kg in weight.
A record from the southern Aegean region of Turkey.
According to the source, the catch occurred in the early morning hours off Kızılada (an island situated in the Fethiye Bay).
This large mako shark was caught by the same fishing vessel (on the same fishing trip) as Specimen No. 2. Both specimens were transported to the İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University for research purposes.
Source and Photo credit: DHA
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Specimen No. 4
Date: reported on 21. June 2019
Location: Mallorca, Spain.
Species: Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Size: not reported (but adult)
A record from the Balearic Islands.
Fishermen filmed this specimen in the waters off Sa Dragonera,
a small islet located just off the west coast of Mallorca.
The video-clip can be viewed on facebook here.
Source and Photo credit: Postureo Mallorquín
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Specimen No. 5
Date: 21. June 2019
Location: Rhodes Island, Greece.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus).
Size: 4,04 metres, 436 kg
A record from the north coast of Rhodes island.
The dead specimen was towed to Kavourakia beach after found floating in the sea.
Source and Photo credit: lifo
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Specimen No. 6
Date: reported on 18. June 2019
Location: Hvide Sande, Denmark.
Species: Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus).
Size: 238 kg in weight.
A record from the North Sea.
The shark was caught by a commercial trawler that was operating from the port of Hvide Sande (located in the western part of Central Denmark Region).
Source: tvmidtvest. Photo credit: fiskerforum.
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Specimen No. 7
Date: 8. June 2019
Location: Makarska, Dalmatia Region, Croatia.
Species: Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Size: estimated 2,5 to 3 metres long.
A record from the south Croatian Adriatic Sea.
The shark was sighted and filmed by a German tourist.
The video-clip can be viewed on Youtube here.
Note:
Two days later, on 11. June, the sighting of a similar sized mako shark occurred in the neighbouring Korčula Channel (see Specimen No. 8).
It is believed that these two specimens (No. 7 & 8) are identical,
due to an L-shaped scar that is visible on the shark’s back.
Please compare the screen-shots here.
Sources: total-croatia-news, podvodni.hr.
Photo credit: Michael Braun.
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Specimen No. 8
Date: 11. June 2019
Location: Korčula Channel, Croatia.
Species: Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Size: not reported.
A record from the south Croatian Adriatic Sea.
A group of tourists encountered and filmed this specimen
in the Korčula Channel.
The video is available on facebook here.
It is assumed that this mako is the same individual
that was filmed off Makarska three days before
(see Note posted for Specimen No. 7 above).
Sources and Photo credit: podvodni.hr
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Specimen No. 9
Date: reported on 10. June 2019
Location: Famagusta, Northern Cyprus (TRNC)
Species: Mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)
Size: said to be 120 cm in length.
The juvenile specimen was caught 1 mile off Palm Beach.
Source and Photo credit: Gatsavida
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Specimen No. 10
Date: 21. May 2019
Location: Nefza, Béja Governorate, Tunisia.
Species: Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Size: said to be 6 metres in length.
This basker got entangled in a fishing net off Cap Negro,
situated on the north-western coast of Tunisia.
According to the source, the specimen was transferred
to a local Marine Research Institute.
Sources: mosaiquefm, Canale105.
Photo Credit: Houtiyat
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Specimen No. 11
Date: 14. May 2019
Location: Cala Salada, Sant Antoni de Portmany, Ibiza, Spain
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus).
Size: said to be 3.5 to 4 metres in length
The decomposed shark carcass was floating in the waters of Cala Salada,
located on the western coast of Ibiza.
It is believed that the shark was caught and then discarded by fishermen.
Source: Dario de Ibiza.
Photo credit: Fran Rojas.
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Specimen No. 12
Date: 12. May 2019
Location: Le Grau-du-Roi, Nimes, France.
Species: Blue shark (Prionace glauca)
Size: said to be ca. 4 metres long, 170 kg in weight.
A record from the French Mediterranean Sea.
This large specimen was caught by a commercial longliner.
Source: la Gazette de Nimes.
Photo credit: Capture d’ecran.
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Specimen No. 13
Date: reported on 9. May 2019
Location: Monte Argentario, Tuscany, Italy.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus).
Size: said to be 300 kg in weight.
Fishermen made this bycatch off Montecristo Island
in the in the Tyrrhenian Sea.
Source and photo credit: il Tirreno.
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Specimen No. 14
Date: 27. April 2019
Location: La Manche, Normandy, France.
Species: Thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)
Size: said to be 192 kg in weight.
Source: le Journal de Sone et Loire.
Photo credit: Progrès/Yves Le Flem
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Specimen No. 15
Date: reported on 8. April 2019
Location: Samandağ district, Hatay, Turkey.
Species: Bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus)
Size: said to be 6 metres in length.
A record from the far eastern Mediterranean Sea.
This specimen was caught in the waters off Samandağ.
A related video of the shark is available below.
Source and Photo credit: Hatay internet TV
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Specimen No. 16
Date: 8 April 2019
Location: Netanya, Israel.
Species: not identified (presumably Mako shark, Isurus spec.)
Size: estimated at least 3 metres long.
The shark sighting occurred about 1.5 km off the coast of Netanya.
A clear identification of the specimen is difficult based
on the existing footage (90-seconds video-clip),
but it is presumably an adult Mako shark.
Source and Photo credit: Walla News
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Specimen No. 17
Date: 26. March 2019
Location: Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus).
Size: said to be 4 metres in length.
The dead shark was found floating in the waters off Puerto Portals,
situated on the western coast of Mallorca Island.
The specimen had a deep cut on its back
(presumably caused by a boat’s propeller).
Source and Photo credit: Mallorcadiario
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Specimen No. 18
Date: reported on 26. March 2019
Location: Bay of Vlorë, Albania.
Species: Bigeye thresher shark (Alopias superciliosus)
Size: said to be 1.2 m long, 60kg in weight.
A record from the eastern Adriatic Sea.
The specimen was caught in a fishing net in the Bay of Vlorë.
A youtube-video of the shark is available here.
Source and Photo credit: Gazeta Shqiptare
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Specimen No. 19
Date: 22. March 2019
Location: Sanxenxo, Galicia, Spain
Species: Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus)
Size: said to be 3 metres in length.
A record from the northwestern Spanish coast (Atlantic Ocean).
The juvenile specimen got entangled and died in a fishing net off Canelas beach.
Source: farodevigo.
Photo credit: Gustavo Santos.
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Specimen No. 20
Date: reported on 14. March 2019
Location: Mersin, Turkey.
Species: Common thresher shark (Alopias vulpinus)
Size: said to be 6 metres long (total length), 500 kg.
A record from the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey.
The specimen was caught in a fishing net about 20 miles offshore.
Source and Photo credit: NTV
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Specimen No. 21
Date: reported on 13. March 2019
Location: Thyborøn, Jutland, Denmark.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Size: estimated weight of 120 to 150 kg
A record from the North Sea.
A fisherman from Thyborøn made this unusual catch.
The shark was released alive after being photographed.
The source claims that this specimen represents the
first documented/confirmed catch of this species in Danish waters.
Source: fiskogfri.
Photo credit: Tobias Konnerup.
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Specimen No. 22
Date: 12. March 2019
Location: Mersin, Turkey.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Size: said to be 4 metres long, ca. 350 kg in weight
A record from the Mediterranean coast of southern Turkey.
The specimen was caught in a fishing net about 12 miles offshore.
Source and Photo credit: TRT Haber
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Specimen No. 23
Date: 12. March 2019
Location: Formia, Lazio Region, Italy
Species: Blue shark (Prionce glauca).
Size: said to be ca. 2 metres in length.
The dead specimen was found stranded on a beach in Formia,
located on the shores of the Tyrrhenian Sea (western coast of Italy).
An embedded fishing hook indicated that the shark was discarded
by fishermen.
Source and Photo credit: temporeal info
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Specimen No. 24
Date: reported on 13. March 2019
Location: Antalya Province, Turkey.
Species: Smalltooth sandtiger shark (Odontaspis ferox)
Size: said to be 4,5 metres in length, ca. 500 kg.
A record from the southern coast of Turkey.
The smalltooth sandtiger was reportedly netted in the Gulf of Antalya.
Although another source claims that this specimen was caught in
the waters of the eastern neighboring province of Mersin
(about 8 nautical miles off the coast of Taşucu).
Source and Photo credit: haberturk, akdenizhaberler.
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Specimen No. 25
Date: 10. March 2019
Location: Torre del Greco, Metropolitan City of Naples, Italy
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Size: said to be ca. 2 metres in length, 100 kg.
A record from the Gulf of Naples.
The dead specimen was found stranded on the rocks of Scala,
between the towns of Ercolano and Torre del Greco.
It was recovered and transfered to a Zoological Institute
for scientific examination.
A Youtube-Video is available here.
Source and Photo credit: TorreChannel it
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Specimen No. 26
Date: 5. March 2019
Location: Nea Anchialos, Thessaly, Greece.
Species: Thresher shark, male (Alopias vulpinus)
Size: said to be 3 metres long, 100 kg in weight.
Source and Photo credit: TA NEA online
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Specimen No. 27
Date: reported on 5. March 2019
Location: Castro, Lecce, Apulia Region, Italy.
Species: Bluntnose sixgill shark (Hexanchus griseus)
Size: not reported (quote: medium sized)
Source and Photo credit: Puglia Reporter.
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Specimen No. 28
Date: 1. March 2019
Location: Gulf of Piran, Croatia.
Species: Basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus).
Size: said to be 6 or 7 metres in length.
A record from the northern part of the Adriatic Sea.
A fisherman from Savudrija caught this specimen in his fishing net.
It is reported that the shark was released later, showing weak signs of life.
It’s fate is unknown.
A related video-clip is available on youtube here.
Source: zurnal24, Naša Bujština
Photo/video credit: Alessandro Aleox
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Specimen No. 29
Date: 27. February 2019
Location: Madeira Island, Portugal.
Species: Smalltooth sandtiger shark (Odontaspis ferox)
Size: said to be 2.60 metres in length and 120 kg in weight.
A record from the autonomous Portuguese region of Madeira,
situated in the north Atlantic Ocean, southwest of Portugal.
The female shark was caught in a depth of approx. 500 m off Porto Moniz,
located on the island’s northwestern coast.
Source and Photo credit: dnoticias pt
