SARDEGNA
Great White Shark Filmed Between Tunisia and Sicily
Rare Mediterranean encounter raises questions about apex predator recovery in waters near Sardinia
Gavino Sanna1,247 wordsEdition №10Wednesday, 10 June 2026 — Edition № 10

A volunteer diver has filmed an encounter with an endangered Great White shark in Mediterranean waters between Tunisia and Sicily, according to the BBC. The footage, described by the diver as a moment that left him shaking, documents a rare sighting of a species that has become increasingly uncommon in European seas. The encounter underscores the unpredictable presence of apex predators in waters that Sardinia shares with North Africa and the wider Mediterranean basin.
Great White sharks have historically inhabited the Mediterranean, but their numbers have declined sharply over decades due to overfishing, habitat loss, and the targeting of large predators. The BBC's report does not specify the exact location of the sighting or provide details about the shark's size or behaviour, but the rarity of such footage suggests that encounters remain exceptional events in a sea where the species was once more common.
For Sardinia, the sighting carries both ecological and economic weight. The island's tourism industry, particularly along the Costa Smeralda and other coastal zones, depends on perceptions of safe bathing and diving. At the same time, marine conservationists view the presence of apex predators as a sign of ecosystem health. The appearance of a Great White in waters adjacent to Sardinian territory raises questions about the broader recovery of Mediterranean marine life and the island's role in monitoring and protecting endangered species.
