An exhaustive study of media reports of shark sightings in the Balearics and the rest of the Mediterranean has been carried out by SchengenVisaInfo.com and the conclusion, according to experts, is that the Mediterranean is safe of sharks despite recent appearances.
In the report, it highlights that this summer, sharks have made quite a few appearances across the globe, making tourists become more cautious when they go for a swim.
With several appearances being recorded, experts say that there is not much to be worried about, as there is more risk of dying while taking a selfie than it is to be eaten by a shark.
There were several sights of sharks in many popular destinations this summer, with the first one being recorded on June 15 in Aquamarina Beach in Orihuela Costa in the south of Alicante, Spain, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.
Minorca was where the second shark appearance recorded this summer, while there were a number in Mallorcan waters as well as Ibiza and Formentera.
Reports of shark appearances were also made in Portugal, Greece, and Croatia; however, the most severe shark attacks were reported in Egypt, where a 24-year-old Russian national lost his life after being attacked by the sea creature in June.
Three months later, a woman lost her arm due to a shark attack. Last year, two women lost their lives in a shark attack on the coast of Hurghada.
Due to the geographical proximity, it is understandable for tourists to be alerted that sharks can be found in Mediterranean waters, but as Alex Buttigieg, a researcher from Malta says, humans are not on the shark’s menu!
Shark appearances in the Mediterranean Sea might have become more frequent, but, in general, the number of attacks has been low.
Chrisos Taklis, a marine biologist and conservationist, says that no fatal shark attacks have been reported in this region in the past years and that the Mediterranean is one of the safest destinations regarding shark encounters worldwide.