Great white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea are in danger of disappearing, with illegal fishing contributing to their decline.

This is according to research by US scientists, working in partnership with UK charity Blue Marine Foundation. They say some of the most threatened species - including great white sharks - are being sold in North African fish markets.

Great whites are one of more than 20 Mediterranean shark species protected under international law, meaning it is illegal to fish for them or to sell them.

By monitoring fishing ports on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa, researchers discovered that at least 40 great white sharks have been killed there in 2025 alone.

The BBC has also found, and independently verified, footage from social media of protected sharks being brought dead into North African ports.

One video showed a large great white being hauled ashore from a fishing boat in Algeria. Another, filmed in Tunisia, shows heads and fins of what appears to be a short-finned mako shark, which is also a threatened and protected species, being prepared for sale.

Last shark stronghold

Lead researcher, Dr Francesco Ferretti from the US university Virginia Tech, explained that many shark populations - white sharks in particular - had declined dramatically in the Mediterranean in recent decades.

Dr. Ferretti stated, No other stretch of water is fished like the Mediterranean Sea, emphasizing the impact of industrial fishing on shark populations.

The Mediterranean white shark population is now classified as Critically Endangered by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

In their latest attempt to study the predators, Dr. Ferretti and his team worked in the Strait of Sicily, identified as a last stronghold in the Mediterranean for several threatened shark species. They aimed to fit a satellite tracking tag onto a white shark, bringing more than three tonnes of fish bait for this purpose.

Despite rigorous efforts, the researchers did not find any sharks to tag and only captured glimpses of one blue shark on their submarine cameras.

Sharks for sale

James Glancy from Blue Marine revealed that multiple white sharks were found for sale in Tunisian fishing markets. He expressed a paradox of hope that despite the alarming situation, the presence of these sharks indicates that there is wildlife to protect.

In poorer North African communities, fishers may face moral dilemmas when it comes to returning endangered species to the sea, especially when food is needed for their families. The path towards sustainable fishing practices is something that conservationists are advocating for.

James Glancy emphasized that collaboration among Mediterranean countries could lead to positive outcomes if actions are taken swiftly.