New record of white shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Elasmobranchii, Lamniformes, Lamnidae), from the Mediterranean Spanish coast

Abstract

This study presents a new record of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758), in Spanish Mediterranean waters. We discuss this finding in the context of documented records from 1862 to 2023, which include direct observations and indirect records such as predation evidence on loggerhead turtles. Together with the present record, these findings support the continued, though infrequent, presence of white sharks in the region. Observations coincide seasonally with Atlantic bluefin tuna migrations, suggesting that prey availability may influence white shark movements.