Marine biologist Gádor Muntaner has provided insights regarding the recent shark sighting in the bay of Palma, which caught the attention of several sailors last Friday. After reviewing multiple images taken by Jacopo Renna and discussing with him, she noted, "he told me the animal was slightly longer than his 2.20 m board, so we estimate it was about 2.50 m in length."
The observed features such as "the robust body, its coloration pattern, keel, tail fin, and behaviour" lead Muntaner to suggest that "everything points to it possibly being a juvenile great white shark."
Having worked extensively with this species around Isla Guadalupe in Mexico, Muntaner recognises the importance of the sighting. She states, "After several years studying this species, I have always dreamed of seeing one in the Mediterranean… and hopefully one day being able to say their populations are recovering." However, she urges caution, noting that "a single isolated sighting like this does not necessarily indicate a population recovery."
She further points out that "Mediterranean shark populations have declined sharply in recent decades," emphasising that "restoring them is crucial to maintaining the marine ecosystem's balance, so any sighting, regardless of species, is good news."
Despite the considerable interest generated, Muntaner stresses the limitations in confirming the species with complete certainty: "To be honest, I cannot confirm it 100%. The available images are limited, and more evidence would be needed."