There has been quite a bit of interest lately in an article I wrote quite a while ago, "Great White Sharks in the Mediterranean." I guess this means people are doing their vacation planning (laughs).
While sharks are not a huge concern, it's foolish to think there is no concern at all as there is a Great White Shark breeding area right inside the Mediterranean; they're not coming here to visit once in a while, they live here! (Wave Action: Debunking myths on Mediterranean great white sharks)
The risk of attack from a Great White Shark is not high because there aren't that many of them. The species is endangered and it's getting worse because their food sources are also declining. In California and other areas, Great White Sharks often eat seals near the coast but in the Mediterranean their typical diet is tuna and therefore they stay in deeper water. (Shark Info: Shark Attacks in the Mediterranean)
The only reason for reporting on this at all is that people don't realise the variety of sharks in the Mediterranean. However, it's not like Australia, where I grew up. Around the Sydney beaches there was constant vigilance as sharks cruise very close to the coast and there was even a species of shark that lived only in the Sydney Harbor. While there are thirty-six species of shark in the Mediterranean, they don't typically cruise around the coast as that isn't where their food supply lives.
Regardless of the actual level of risk, Sydney rules will always apply for me as I grew up with them and the certain knowledge that there are things in the ocean quite large enough to easily eat me! Therefore, one never swims alone, etc. Around Katakolon, the water is relatively shallow for quite a distance out. Shallow water won't stop a bull shark but there is no report of them ever being sighted in the Mediterranean.
From what I've read, there is no reason to change vacation plans in the Mediterranean area because of a fear of shark attack. If you want to worry about anything, concern yourself with bee stings as multiple people die from anaphylactic shock every year and the incidence of shark attacks doesn't even come close to that.
While sharks are not a huge concern, it's foolish to think there is no concern at all as there is a Great White Shark breeding area right inside the Mediterranean; they're not coming here to visit once in a while, they live here! (Wave Action: Debunking myths on Mediterranean great white sharks)
The risk of attack from a Great White Shark is not high because there aren't that many of them. The species is endangered and it's getting worse because their food sources are also declining. In California and other areas, Great White Sharks often eat seals near the coast but in the Mediterranean their typical diet is tuna and therefore they stay in deeper water. (Shark Info: Shark Attacks in the Mediterranean)
The only reason for reporting on this at all is that people don't realise the variety of sharks in the Mediterranean. However, it's not like Australia, where I grew up. Around the Sydney beaches there was constant vigilance as sharks cruise very close to the coast and there was even a species of shark that lived only in the Sydney Harbor. While there are thirty-six species of shark in the Mediterranean, they don't typically cruise around the coast as that isn't where their food supply lives.
Regardless of the actual level of risk, Sydney rules will always apply for me as I grew up with them and the certain knowledge that there are things in the ocean quite large enough to easily eat me! Therefore, one never swims alone, etc. Around Katakolon, the water is relatively shallow for quite a distance out. Shallow water won't stop a bull shark but there is no report of them ever being sighted in the Mediterranean.
From what I've read, there is no reason to change vacation plans in the Mediterranean area because of a fear of shark attack. If you want to worry about anything, concern yourself with bee stings as multiple people die from anaphylactic shock every year and the incidence of shark attacks doesn't even come close to that.
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