Rare Great White shark sighting prompts calls for Mediterranean marine protection

Volunteer diver Derk Remmers has captured rare footage of an endangered Great White shark in the Mediterranean Sea, a sighting that conservationists hope will galvanise governments to establish marine protected areas. The encounter occurred in May between Tunisia and Sicily, with Remmers describing the moment as "pretty special" despite admitting his fingers were trembling while attempting to operate the camera.

The footage was recorded by divers working for the environmental NGO Healthy Seas, who were in the area investigating the prevalence of ghost fishing nets. Scientists have identified the animal as an adult male spotted many miles offshore, confirming that it posed no threat to the public. The organisation stated that people should not be concerned about the sighting given the shark's distance from coastal zones.

The appearance of the Great White in these waters highlights the precarious state of the species in the Mediterranean, where overfishing has driven populations to near extinction. Conservationists argue that the visual documentation of the shark serves as a critical indicator of the need for stricter governance and habitat preservation in the region.

Healthy Seas has utilised the footage to draw attention to broader environmental issues, including the impact of abandoned fishing gear on marine ecosystems. The NGO’s presence in the area was part of a broader effort to highlight the problem of ghost nets, which continue to trap and kill marine life long after being discarded.

While the specific date of the footage's release was not detailed, the sighting has reignited calls for policy intervention. Advocates hope that this rare visual evidence will encourage state actors to prioritise the creation of marine protected areas, offering a pathway for the recovery of shark populations in the Mediterranean.