The Mediterranean Sea, a popular destination for millions of tourists, often raises questions regarding the presence of sharks. While the sea is home to a diverse population, the common fear of dangerous encounters far outweighs the actual risk. The chances of a swimmer meeting a large predator are minimal, contrasting sharply with dramatic media portrayals. This environment remains notably safe due to specific ecological and historical factors.
Historical Record of Confirmed Attacks
The historical record of unprovoked shark attacks in the Mediterranean Sea is remarkably low considering the immense human activity in the region. Data collected over the past 150 years indicate a total count of approximately 36 confirmed unprovoked attacks across the entire basin. Roughly half, or 18 incidents, have been recorded as fatal over the same period, illustrating the rarity of a lethal encounter.
The last fatality associated with a large predatory species like the Great White Shark occurred decades ago. A fatal incident involved a snorkeler in Hadera, Israel, in 2025, with the suspected species being a dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus). Experts considered this event an anomaly, often linked to localized factors like warm water outflow from a power station and the concentration of sharks. When spread across over a century and millions of annual swimmers, these statistics confirm that the probability of an unprovoked shark bite is negligible.
Why Attacks Are Rare in the Mediterranean
The low frequency of attacks is explained by geographical factors and a decline in the large shark population. The Mediterranean is an enclosed body of water, and its large predatory species generally prefer the deeper, cooler pelagic zones away from the coast. Coastal waters frequented by swimmers do not offer the rich food sources that attract the largest sharks.
The preferred prey of the Great White Shark includes large marine mammals and migrating Bluefin tuna, which follow deep-water routes far offshore. The populations of large shark species have plummeted, with some estimates suggesting a decline of up to 90% in sightings over the last three decades. This reduction is largely due to intensive commercial fishing, where sharks are frequently caught as bycatch, removing them from the ecosystem. The combination of deep-water habitat preference and reduced numbers means the paths of humans and large sharks rarely cross near popular beaches.
Major Shark Species Inhabiting the Sea
Despite the low risk, the Mediterranean Sea is home to around 47 different shark species, with a few considered potentially dangerous to humans. The most recognized is the Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), which maintains a small, genetically distinct population within the basin. This species is most often found in deeper waters, particularly around the Sicilian Channel and parts of the Adriatic, following the seasonal migration of Bluefin tuna.
The Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) is one of the most common large sharks in the region, but it is primarily an oceanic, deep-water species. While capable of growing to large size, it is rarely encountered by bathers and poses minimal threat in coastal zones. Another predator, the Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus), also inhabits the deep, open waters of the Mediterranean, but its nature as a fast-swimming pelagic hunter keeps it distant from shore-based activities.