Research by US scientists in partnership with the UK charity Blue Marine Foundation has revealed that great white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea are facing possible extinction due to illegal fishing. Despite international protections for over 20 shark species, including great whites, at least 40 have reportedly been killed in North African waters in 2025 alone.
Investigations at fishing ports in Tunisia and Algeria found sharks being sold in markets, with social media footage confirming illegal landings. Lead researcher Dr Francesco Ferretti of Virginia Tech described the Mediterranean as heavily fished and warned that industrial fishing pressure could soon wipe out the species.
Efforts to study the sharks using baited cameras and satellite tracking in the Strait of Sicily largely failed, highlighting the severe population decline. Conservationists stress that accidental catches often stem from the survival needs of local fishers and that sustainable fishing practices and international cooperation are urgent to prevent the sharks’ disappearance.
