Do sharks live in the Aegean Sea?

Answer 1

Several shark species live in the Mediterranean, and Aegean Sea, the coast around Crete, Rhodes and Sicily. There is a general debate, about whether Great Whites, are found in the Meditteranean. There is some evidence to suggest that one of its breeding Grounds is around Sicily and in the Adriatic around the Balkans.

While no one has direct evidence of their presence, it has been speculated for decades that they are there. An increased global interest in the general subject has meant that shark research in the area has been more likely to indentify sharks in the Meditteranean and Aegean seas.

Mediterranean Sea Surface Temperatures have remained unchanged in the last 72 years since records began in the area.

A Number of shark attack cases have occured amongst Divers, of the Coast of Sicily. These were assumed to have been a lone or solitary Great White, although it is more likely to have been a Mako or Blue Sharks also known to attack man.

The biggest Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias,ever caught was caught in the Mediterranean Sea - off the coast of Malta in 1987 by one Alfredo Cutajar. It was said to have measured 7 meters (23 feet) however these claims have been disputed recently with some experts placing the size of the shark at around 18 feet or just over 5 meters.

Mako Sharks are sometimes found off the Coast of Cornwall, and have been found once in the English Channel, which hunts the shoals of mackeral. Blue Sharks another Species of Shark found to attack humans is found off the coast of Cornwall.

In the Meditteranean another Visitor is the Thresher Shark, which was relatively common, but now much scarcer because of overfishing. It has a long Curved tail which it will use to hit the water and stun fish. There have been no reported attacks on man.

Other shark species are the smaller DogFish, and the Angel Shark, a bottom dweller. In in Deeper and Colder water around Northern England is the Goblin Shark, a large shark of deep water, which has the potential to kill man, in reality no one has ever died from an attack.

The Basking Shark, is a summer visitor, to Cold Water regions Adriatic and Uk, and is totally harmless, feeding on Plankton.