Overview
- The peer‑reviewed review by Báez et al., published in Acta Ichthyologica et Piscatoria, synthesizes records from 1862 to 2023 and concludes great whites persist in Spanish Mediterranean waters, though very rarely.
- An accidental catch on April 20, 2023 of a juvenile great white about 2.1 meters long and 80–90 kilograms in Spain’s Exclusive Economic Zone prompted the historical reanalysis.
- Sightings, strandings, and captures remain exceptional events, underscoring the species’ sparse presence in the basin.
- The juvenile specimen raises the possibility of nearby breeding or nursery areas, yet the authors stress a single case cannot confirm sustained reproduction.
- Given the species’ IUCN Vulnerable status, the study recommends long‑term surveys and modern tagging and tracking, noting prior nursery candidates such as the Strait of Sicily, Gulf of Gabès, and Turkey’s Bay of Edremit.