Rare Great White Shark Sighted in Mediterranean as Species Nears Local Extinction

A volunteer diver captured rare footage of a great white shark in the Mediterranean Sea in May. The shark, believed to be an adult male, was spotted many miles offshore between Tunisia and Sicily. Volunteer diver Derk Remmers filmed the encounter while working with the NGO Healthy Seas.

The divers were diving to highlight the problem of so-called ghost fishing nets. Derk Remmers described the moment as pretty special. ] And in fact my fingers were trembling when I was trying to get the camera operating," he told the BBC.

Scientists say people should not be concerned. The shark was spotted far from shore. It is thought overfishing has contributed to driving the species to near extinction in the Mediterranean. Conservationists said they hoped the sighting may encourage governments to create marine protected areas in Mediterranean waters.