Mediterranean great white sharks face extinction due to illegal fishing operations that continue despite international protections. Research conducted by American scientists partnering with the UK-based Blue Marine Foundation has documented the ongoing capture and sale of these critically endangered predators in North African markets.
Over 20 shark species inhabiting the Mediterranean, including great whites, possess legal protection under international law that explicitly prohibits their capture and commercial trade. At least 40 great white sharks were killed in 2025 alone at fishing ports along the North African coast, according to researchers monitoring these locations.
Video evidence verified by BBC forensics teams shows protected sharks being brought ashore dead and subsequently offered for sale. One recording captured a large great white being hauled from an Algerian fishing vessel, while another from Tunisia displayed heads and fins of short-finned mako sharks, another threatened species, prepared for commercial sale.
Dr. Francesco Ferretti from Virginia Tech led research efforts in the Strait of Sicily, identified as a critical refuge for threatened shark species. Intensive Mediterranean fishing surpasses all other ocean regions, according to Ferretti, with industrial operations intensifying ecosystem degradation. His team deployed three tonnes of bait and specialized detection methods over two weeks but discovered only a single blue shark, illustrating the population collapse.
Twenty-four threatened shark species carry international legal protections, with regulations prohibiting their retention, transport, landing, or sale. Enforcement varies significantly among Mediterranean nations, and existing rules inadequately address accidental bycatch. Conservation experts emphasize that providing economic alternatives and sustainable fishing training for impoverished fishing communities represents essential recovery strategy, though immediate action remains critical.
