The news was made official last Thursday by the Elasmed observatory. It is indeed a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) which was observed and filmed by a fisherman in the waters of the Port-Cros national park at the beginning of November. It was seen more precisely to the east of Porquerolles, 600 m off the tip of Sarranier, specifies Var-Matin, who revealed the information. The shark measures between 3.5 and 4.5 meters long.
“Great news for this classified species Critically Endangered and having almost disappeared from our French coasts, and even from the Mediterranean due to very disparate levels of protection depending on the country”, rejoices the Émergence association on its Facebook page.
Although the shark has not been seen since, it is, according to the Émergence association, a “remarkable observation” while the population of white sharks has been “in sharp decline” over the last 30 years.
“Although these observations remain exceptional, the great white shark is indeed present in the Mediterranean, but in clear decline. From 1989 to 1998, 85 observations were recorded, and only 46 between 1999 and 2008, or -45%,” laments the association.
In September, other sharks, “Blue Skin” sharks, were observed off the coast of Sanary-sur-Mer devouring the carcass of a sperm whale, BFMTV recalls.
