Sharks return to Turkish waters:

What’s behind it?

A gentle breeze stirring excitement. The majesty of a sunset watched from the shore. Holiday plans made to shed the stress of the year. For many, summer brings to mind idyllic scenes of life along Turkey’s Aegean and Mediterranean coasts.

Yet these days, there is another story unfolding in these waters. One told through direct encounters and striking images: sharks.

Footage captured by fishermen and accounts shared from the coasts of the Aegean, Marmara, and Mediterranean have brought the presence of sharks back into focus. But according to experts, their presence here is not new.

The portrait of a predator

For many people, the way they imagine sharks was shaped in the summer of 1975. That was when Steven Spielberg’s Jaws, adapted from Peter Benchley’s novel, premiered in theaters. The film, which opened on a warm summer day, ended up becoming the box office sensation of the season. But its most lasting legacy was something else: a fear of sharks that we still carry today.

The hunting pressure: So, who is the real predator?

Beyond the impact of Jaws, sharks today are facing a far greater threat, one that puts their very survival at risk. Across the world, intensified fishing has pushed many shark species to the brink of extinction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed numerous shark species on its Red List, warning that their populations have fallen to critical levels.

It is estimated that around 100 million sharks are killed each year as a result of this hunting pressure. That number rivals the entire population of countries like Mexico or Japan. One of the key drivers behind this alarming figure is the global trade in shark fins, which has turned into an industrial-scale practice.

Conservation efforts

In recent years, the protection of sharks and bans on their hunting have gained increasing importance on an international level. Many countries have introduced significant regulations in response to the growing risk of extinction faced by shark species. However, despite these legal measures, the bans often fall short. The economic scale of the existing shark trade industry makes enforcement difficult and limits the impact of these efforts.

Every year, up to 100 million sharks are killed by humans. The majority of these hunts take place in a specific region of the Pacific Ocean, driven largely by demand for shark fin soup.

Hong Kong is known as the world’s primary hub for the shark fin trade. Other major centers include Taiwan, Indonesia, and Singapore.

According to data from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in 2019, European Union countries account for more than 20 percent of the global trade in shark meat. Spain leads the way in these exports.

Despite heavy hunting pressure, many coastal regions stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Indian Ocean remain critical gathering and breeding grounds for sharks.

Most reported shark attacks on humans in these areas occur off the coasts of the United States, Australia, and parts of Africa.

The most common species involved in such attacks include the tiger shark, great white shark, bull shark, blacktip reef shark, and sand tiger shark.

Turkish coastline

Turkey’s coastlines, located along the migratory routes of tuna schools in Europe, have become frequent stops for sharks. As they follow their prey, sharks make their way through the Mediterranean and into the inner parts of the Aegean Sea and even the Sea of Marmara. Along these routes, they hunt schools of tuna, swordfish, dentex, sardines, and anglerfish. According to experts, these feeding patterns provide valuable insight into the migration routes and behavioral habits of sharks.

Many sharks that enter Turkish waters through the Mediterranean are following the movements of these fish schools.

The Marmara mystery: from deep waters to the shores

Speaking in an explanatory documentary produced by Scrolli’s studio team, shark expert Hakan Kabasakal points to pollution and declining oxygen levels in Turkish seas as the main reasons behind the recent rise in shark sightings. “Predatory species that normally avoid the coasts are now moving closer to shore,” Kabasakal says. “This increases predation pressure on commercial fish stocks. Researchers are warning that the oxygen depletion in the deep waters of the Marmara Sea has reached a dangerous phase.”

Experts note that great white sharks, which follow these migrating fish schools and establish breeding grounds along Turkey’s coasts, are among the species becoming more visible. Records of great whites caught in fishing nets over the past ten years support this observation.

Recent footage of a great white shark was captured off the coast of northern Aegean waters.

Historical records and archives also confirm the presence of great white sharks along Turkish shores.

An adult great white typically measures between four and six meters in length.

Their average lifespan ranges from 30 to 40 years.

Their skin is covered in tiny, tough dermal denticles, which reduce drag and help them swim at high speeds with minimal resistance.

They were here all along

The presence of sharks, including great whites, in Turkey’s coastal waters has deep historical roots. One notable example dates back to the 16th century, when an enormous great white shark was caught near Istanbul’s city walls. This event was documented in Ottoman records, highlighting the longstanding presence of these apex predators.

Between 1930 and 1980, a total of 13 shark attacks were recorded in the Marmara Sea. Hakan Kabasakal emphasizes the role of media in shaping public awareness of sharks. He calls for a balanced approach that avoids panic, stating, “Protecting sharks is no different from protecting our natural heritage.”

They're coming to the Aegean to breed'

According to Kabasakal, one of the most critical breeding areas for great white sharks in the Mediterranean is located in the Aegean Sea. He explains that pregnant females arrive in Turkish waters during the summer months. “One of their rare breeding grounds is along our Aegean coast,” Kabasakal says. “The sea here is dotted with islands, creating a sheltered environment. This makes it an ideal nursery for young great whites.”

The documentary is now available on YouTube.

Editorial Notes

Story: Ilgaz Fakıoğlu

Curation: Ilgaz Fakıoğlu, Nihat Avcı

Video: Ilgaz Fakıoğlu

Thanks to: Hakan Kabasakal

Video Archive: Cenk Balkan

3D: "Earth" (https://skfb.ly/6TJB8) by Shubhanshu Soni is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

"Shark" (https://skfb.ly/6R9HT) by holamgadol is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

Recources

Sharks. Interactive Attack Map. Statistics and Survival Guides. (https://floridapanhandle.com/shark-attack-data/)

Ansley Couch. 'Sharks Overfishing'. 2022 (https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f1b03320f6e1430fbfb9479653bbbe52)

The shark and ray meat network. WWF. 2021

ERGÜDEN, D., AYAS, D., & KABASAKAL, H. (2021). Recent Occurrence of Shortfin Mako Shark, Isurus oxyrinchus Rafinesque, 1810 (Chondrichthyes: Lamnidae), from the North-Eastern Mediterranean Coast of Turkey. Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University Journal of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, 4(1), 79-85. https://doi.org/10.46384/jmsf.839454

Bradai, Mohamed & Enajjar, Samira & Saïdi, Béchir. (2022). Sharks’ Status in the Mediterranean Sea Urgent Awareness is Needed. 10.5772/intechopen.108162.

Hesabınız mı var?

Giriş yapın

Anasayfaya dön ⌲

Zaten bir hesabınız var.
Ödeme işlemini tamamlamak için buraya tıklayın

Abone ol

Sınırsız Premium Hikâye

Derin Bakış Bülteni

Dijital Topluluk

Teşekkürler!

Hata! Formu gönderirken bir şeyler ters gitti.