In the collective imagination, the presence of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in the Balearics has long hovered between myth and anecdote. Nevertheless, scientific data and fishermen's accounts confirm that this apex predator historically inhabited the western Mediterranean and left a notable record in waters around Mallorca.
Throughout much of the 20th century, especially between the 1940s and 1970s, traditional tuna fishing methods called almadrabas, using fixed nets in locations such as the bays of Pollensa and Alcudia — particularly at Cap Pinar and Cap Ferrutx — unintentionally caught numerous large great whites. Attracted by the tuna, one of their preferred prey, these sharks became trapped in nets anchored near the coast. Records show that between 1941 and 1976, at least 18 significant great white captures were documented in northern Mallorca, while other sources suggest close to 30 across the Balearic Islands. Some specimens exceeded six metres in length and weighed over 2,000 kilograms.
The decline in sightings and captures was marked from the late 1970s onward. The last large great white recorded in Mallorca was in 1976. Since then, encounters with this species have been rare and anecdotal, often involving indirect evidence such as bite marks on large fish — difficult to verify without genetic or visual confirmation.
Scientific confirmation breaks decades-long gap
This silence was interrupted on 28 June 2018 when the scientific expedition from the organisation Alnitak filmed and documented an approximately five-metre great white shark some eight nautical miles off Cabrera. Led by biologist Ricardo Sagarminaga, the team confirmed the first scientifically verified sighting of a live great white in Spanish waters for at least 30 years. This encounter was described as historic for being the first modern scientific record of this species alive in the Balearics.
Currently, research supports the view that great white sharks are exceedingly rare in the western Mediterranean and likely undergoing a significant historical decline. Investigations employing environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis aim to detect their presence in the waters around Mallorca, Menorca, and Cabrera, but no evidence yet indicates a resident population in the Balearics.
Other shark species more common in balearic waters
In contrast to the scarce great white, species such as the shortfin mako (tintorera), the smooth hammerhead (mussola), and the blue shark (gatvaire) appear more frequently. Occasionally, juvenile individuals approaching coastal areas have led to temporary beach closures as a precaution. Despite this, the great white remains a sporadic visitor to the region.
Experts emphasise the ecological importance of these apex predators, noting their key role in maintaining marine ecosystem balance.