**The majestic great white shark, an iconic apex predator of the Mediterranean Sea, is teetering on the precipice of local extinction, a stark warning issued by US scientists and conservationists. New research indicates that this critically endangered population is being decimated by rampant illegal fishing, with dire implications for the marine ecosystem's delicate balance.**
A comprehensive study, spearheaded by Dr. Francesco Ferretti of Virginia Tech and supported by the UK-based Blue Marine Foundation, has revealed a deeply concerning reality. The Mediterranean's great white shark population has been officially classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a designation that underscores the extreme risk of disappearance. This alarming status stems from the relentless pressure exerted by human activities, primarily industrial fishing, which has rendered this once-thriving marine environment one of the most heavily exploited on Earth.
The research, conducted in late 2025, involved meticulous monitoring of fishing ports along the North African coastline, specifically in Algeria and Tunisia. The findings paint a grim picture: protected shark species, including the formidable great white, are being caught and subsequently sold in local fish markets. Social media footage, independently verified by the BBC, unequivocally demonstrates the grim reality, with images showing dead sharks, including a substantial great white being hauled ashore from a fishing vessel in Algeria, being brought to port. Another distressing video captured in Tunisia depicted the dismemberment of what appeared to be a short-finned mako shark, another threatened species, for commercial purposes.
Dr. Ferretti articulated the severity of the situation, stating, "No other stretch of water is fished like the Mediterranean Sea." He further elaborated on the escalating threat, noting, "The impact of industrial fishing has been intensifying... and it's plausible that they will go extinct in the near future." The sheer intensity of fishing operations in the Mediterranean leaves little room for these large, slow-reproducing predators to recover. It is estimated that at least 40 great white sharks were victims of this illegal trade in 2025 alone, a figure that represents a significant portion of a dwindling population.
The plight of the Mediterranean great white shark is symptomatic of a broader crisis affecting numerous marine species. The illegal targeting and sale of protected sharks not only threaten their immediate survival but also disrupt the intricate food webs of which they are a vital component. As top predators, their absence can trigger cascading effects throughout the ecosystem, potentially leading to unforeseen ecological consequences. The official recognition of their Critically Endangered status by the IUCN serves as an urgent call to action, demanding robust enforcement of fishing regulations and concerted conservation efforts to safeguard the future of these magnificent creatures before they vanish from Mediterranean waters forever.