A large shark has been spotted in the sea off Majorca, just weeks after a great white was caught in Spanish waters. The sighting occurred on Friday during a sailing regatta in Palma Bay, according to the Majorca Daily Bulletin.
One of the sailors filmed the shark swimming calmly near dozens of sailing boats not far from shore. Shark expert Juan Poyatos told the Majorca Daily News that the shark appeared to be a mako shark, an ocean-going predator known for its speed.
The mako shark is described by the BBC as a supreme hunter that hunts some of the fastest fish in the sea. It can sprint at 30 mph and often attacks its prey by biting off its tail to prevent escape.
Aniol Esteban, director of the Marilles Foundation, noted that the shark likely belongs to the Lamnidae family, which includes the mako, great white, and porbeagle. He added that a porbeagle was observed in Cabrera in 2018.
Poyatos emphasised that sightings of these species are rare but positive, stating: “All these species have suffered a sharp decline in the Mediterranean and some are on the brink of extinction, so their presence is always good news.”
