Mallorca, an island in the Balearic Sea, is a premier tourist destination known for its clear, warm waters in the Western Mediterranean. Questions about marine life, particularly the presence of sharks, are common among visitors. While the Mediterranean Sea is a natural habitat for various shark species, their presence near busy coastlines is nuanced. The vast majority of these animals live far from the beaches, though the waters surrounding the Balearic Islands are part of their ecological range.
Sharks Native to the Western Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is home to an estimated 47 species of sharks, establishing it as a natural shark habitat. These species include a wide variety of sizes and behaviors, from small, deep-dwelling catsharks to large pelagic predators. Many species, such as the bluntnose sixgill shark, are primarily deep-water inhabitants, residing at depths where they rarely encounter swimmers.
The Western Mediterranean basin supports several types of sharks, including those that traverse open waters. Pelagic species like the blue shark and the shortfin mako shark travel across vast distances and are occasionally sighted. However, overfishing and habitat degradation have severely impacted shark populations, leading to a significant decline in their numbers. This decrease contributes to the rarity of sightings near shorelines where human activity is concentrated.
Species Specifically Recorded Near Mallorca
The waters around the Balearic Islands, including Mallorca, are primarily frequented by species that pose virtually no threat to humans. The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is the most commonly sighted larger species, identified by its slender body and distinct blue coloration. Blue sharks prefer the open ocean and typically only venture near the coast when they are disoriented or unwell.
Sightings of these sharks near beaches are extremely infrequent and generally involve a lone individual that quickly moves back to deeper water. Other species that inhabit the area include the angelshark (Squatina squatina), a flat, bottom-dwelling species camouflaged on the sandy seabed. Historically, the presence of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) has been documented in the Balearic Sea, with numerous catches recorded by fishermen between 1920 and 1976.
The first scientifically confirmed sighting of a live great white shark in over 30 years occurred in 2018, approximately eight miles off the coast of Cabrera, south of Mallorca. This observation was made by researchers in deep, offshore waters. Historical and current data consistently show that these larger predators are extremely rare near the coast, preferring the deeper, pelagic zones of the archipelago.
Assessing the Risk for Swimmers
The probability of a swimmer encountering a shark in the waters off Mallorca is low. The International Shark Attack File (ISAF) data confirms that shark incidents in the Mediterranean are rare events. Historically, only a handful of attacks have been confirmed in Spain’s recorded history, with the majority being unprovoked and non-fatal.
Statistically, the dangers faced by tourists are far more likely to involve everyday occurrences, such as sunburn, strong currents, or jellyfish stings, which are common marine hazards in the summer months. In the rare instance of a close-to-shore sighting, local authorities and lifeguards quickly raise red flags and monitor the area to ensure safety. Any reported bites or injuries are frequently suspected by experts to be caused by smaller fish, such as triggerfish or bluefish, rather than sharks.
For those who wish to minimize risk, general safety practices are simple and effective. It is advisable to avoid swimming at dawn or dusk, as many marine animals are more active during these twilight hours. Swimmers should also avoid wearing shiny jewelry, which can be mistaken for the glint of fish scales by curious predators. Mallorca’s reputation as a safe and stunning swimming destination is well-deserved, as evidence points to the rarity of concerning shark activity near the popular beaches.