Great white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea are in danger of disappearing, with illegal fishing contributing to their decline.

This is according to research by US scientists, working in partnership with UK charity Blue Marine Foundation. They say some of the most threatened species, including great white sharks, are being sold in North African fish markets.

Great whites are one of more than 20 Mediterranean shark species protected under international law, meaning it is illegal to fish for them or to sell them.

By monitoring fishing ports on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, however, researchers discovered that at least 40 great white sharks have been killed there in 2025 alone.

The BBC has also found, and independently verified, footage from social media of protected sharks being brought dead into North African ports.

One video showed a large great white being hauled ashore from a fishing boat in Algeria. Another, filmed in Tunisia, shows heads and fins of what appears to be a short-finned mako shark, which is also a threatened and protected species, being prepared for sale.

Last Shark Stronghold

Lead researcher, Dr Francesco Ferretti from the US university Virginia Tech, explained that many shark populations - white sharks in particular - had declined dramatically in the Mediterranean in recent decades.

Dr Ferretti noted, No other stretch of water is fished like the Mediterranean Sea, emphasizing the urgent threat posed by industrial fishing.

The impact of industrial fishing has been intensifying... and it's plausible that they will go extinct in the near future, he stated.

The Mediterranean white shark population is now classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

In their latest attempt to find and study the predators, Dr Ferretti and his team worked in the Strait of Sicily, an area identified as a last stronghold for several threatened shark species.

Despite two weeks of research involving extensive baiting, sampling for shark DNA, and underwater cameras, they failed to tag a single shark.

Dr Ferretti remarked, It's disheartening. It just shows how degraded this ecosystem is. Reports of a juvenile great white captured nearby signal an urgent need for conservation efforts.

Sharks for Sale

Protected species are often caught, landed, and sold in parts of North Africa. Footage captured in Algeria and Tunisia highlights the ongoing illegal trade in these sharks.

While the international agreement prohibits the retention of these species on fishing vessels, enforcement is inconsistent across different Mediterranean countries.

James Glancy from Blue Marine expressed a mixture of hope and concern, stating that the presence of great white sharks for sale signifies that wildlife still exists and expresses a path for recovery if protective measures are put in place.

What Can Be Done?

Addressing the economic pressures faced by fishermen is crucial for conservation efforts. By providing sustainable fishing education and practices, communities can be guided towards protecting their marine environment while securing food for their families.

Experts have called for regional cooperation and immediate action to prevent the extinction of great white sharks in the Mediterranean.