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Three-metre shark spotted circling boat off Granada coast
The endangered shortfin mako was pictured four miles from the coast of Almuñécar
A large shark has been spotted off the coast of Almuñécar in Granada, just days before the May bank holiday rush is expected to bring thousands of visitors to southern Spain’s beaches.
The animal, measuring around three metres in length, was seen earlier this week about four miles offshore by a team of biologists from the University of Granada. According to the researchers, the shark approached their vessel several times before swimming away.
It is believed to be a shortfin mako shark, a species classified as endangered globally and protected in the Mediterranean, where fishing it is prohibited despite its highly valued meat.
The sighting comes just days after several Portuguese man o' war were also reported in the same waters, some further out to sea and others closer to the coast near Punta de la Mona.
Despite its fearsome reputation, experts say the mako shark is not considered a danger to beachgoers. The species typically inhabits open water, swimming between the surface and depths of around 400 metres, and only rarely approaches the shoreline.
The shortfin mako is known as the fastest shark in the ocean, capable of reaching speeds of up to 70 km/h. It has a distinctive streamlined, torpedo-shaped body, a pointed snout and long, narrow teeth, making it a highly efficient predator.According to marine biologists, its diet mainly consists of fish such as mackerel, sardines and hake, as well as squid and smaller sharks.
While sightings like this can sound alarming, the species is not unusual in waters such as the Alboran Sea, the Strait of Gibraltar and the Gulf of Cádiz. Fishermen and recreational boats occasionally encounter them off the coasts of Granada, Málaga and Almería.
The waters off southern Spain are home to a wide range of marine life, from small species measuring less than a metre to much larger visitors such as the basking shark, which can reach up to 10 metres in length and feeds on plankton. One of the most commonly spotted sharks in the area, however, remains the blue shark.
Images: Universidad de Granada
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