Overview
- The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists Mediterranean white sharks as Critically Endangered after decades of decline.
- Researchers working with the Blue Marine Foundation reported at least 40 great whites killed along the North African coast in 2025.
- The BBC verified footage of a large great white landed in Algeria and images of protected shark parts offered for sale in Tunisia.
- A late-2025 expedition in the Strait of Sicily deployed more than three tonnes of bait and 500 liters of tuna oil yet failed to tag any great whites, capturing only a single blue shark on camera.
- Conservation scientists urge stronger enforcement, support for sustainable fishing in local communities, and improved monitoring including first-ever satellite tagging in the region.