Rare great white shark filmed off Sicily in Mediterranean first
A volunteer diver captured the first confirmed footage of a great white shark in Mediterranean waters off Sicily this week, reigniting debate over dwindling shark populations and marine conservation efforts. The sighting, 40 nautical miles offshore, comes amid warnings that overfishing has pushed the species to the brink in the region.
Sicily’s waters played host to an unprecedented visitor this week—a great white shark, captured on camera for the first time in Mediterranean history. Volunteer diver Derk Remmers, part of a Healthy Seas expedition, recorded the encounter on May 12 while documenting ghost fishing nets. The shark, an adult male estimated at 4.5 meters, circled within meters of Remmers’ group before vanishing into the deep. His hands shook as he fumbled to start the camera, later telling colleagues the encounter felt ‘like something out of a documentary that had come to life.’
The footage, verified by marine biologists at the University of Palermo, confirms a species long thought functionally extinct in the Mediterranean. Historically, great whites thrived in these waters, but decades of overfishing, bycatch and net entanglement reduced numbers to fewer than 250 individuals. Conservationists now warn the sighting may signal a fragile recovery—or a final warning.
Key Points
- ✅ First confirmed footage of a great white shark in Mediterranean waters
- ⚡ Sighting occurred 40 nautical miles off Sicily’s coast
- 💡 Adult male estimated at 4.5 meters long
- 🔍 Filmed during a Healthy Seas expedition targeting ghost fishing nets
Healthy Seas, the NGO behind the dive, shared the footage with scientists Friday, triggering an emergency response from the Italian Ministry of Environment. Dr. Elena Rossi, a marine ecologist at the University of Catania, said the shark’s presence suggests ‘a possible shift in ecosystem dynamics’ or a temporary migration from the Atlantic. ‘We’re seeing more large predators near Sicily lately,’ she noted, ‘but none of this size.’
| Species Status | Mediterranean (2000) | Mediterranean (2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Great White Shark | Functionally extinct | Possibly re-emerging, single sighting |
| Blue Shark | Vulnerable | Stable but declining |
| Loggerhead Turtle | Endangered | Rebounding due to protection |
Fishermen in the region reported no recent attacks, and the Ministry issued a public advisory urging calm. However, marine conservation groups are seizing the moment to push for immediate expansion of protected zones. ‘This is a historic signal,’ said Sofia Marino of Marevivo. ‘If we don’t act now, we may lose the chance to bring them back.’
💡 Pro Tip
If you encounter a large shark while diving, maintain eye contact, avoid sudden movements and slowly back away—never turn your back. Use a dive knife or camera as a barrier if needed.
Marine traffic data shows the sighting occurred in one of the Mediterranean’s busiest shipping lanes, raising concerns about ship strikes. Between 2010 and 2024, at least three great white sharks were killed by vessel collisions in the western Med. ‘This shark survived fishing nets and pollution,’ said Rossi. ‘Now it faces the silent threat of the open sea.’
📋 By The Numbers
- 250 — Estimated remaining great white sharks in the Mediterranean
- 40 — Nautical miles offshore where the shark was filmed
- 3 — Number of great whites killed by ship strikes in the Med since 2010
- 1990 — Last confirmed breeding population of great whites in the Mediterranean
The Italian Coast Guard has deployed drones to monitor the area for the next 72 hours. Meanwhile, Healthy Seas has called for an emergency summit with EU marine protection agencies. ‘One sighting doesn’t mean recovery,’ Remmers said. ‘But it gives us hope—and a reason to fight harder.’ Scientists will continue tracking migration patterns using satellite tags, hoping to uncover whether this is a lone wanderer or the beginning of a slow return.