Sharks in Greece: types, real risks and safety rules

Sharks in Greece – not a legend and not a new reason for beach hysteria. They live in Aegean, Ionian, Cretan And Libyan seas millions of years. It’s just that now every vacationer has I have a phone, a camera and a strong desire to urgently declare a state of emergency on the sea.

The reason for updating this material was the appearance of approximately 2.5 meter shark at Loutra-Oreas-Elenis in the area Corinth. According to Greek media reports, the fish was spotted close to the shore, causing concern among local residents and vacationers. Some publications have suggested that it could be mako sharkhowever, accurate identification from video always requires caution.

According to experts, about 36 species of sharks. In the wider Mediterranean basin there are about 47 typessome of which can reach large sizes. But the important detail remains the same: the presence of sharks in the sea does not mean that the beach automatically turns into a scene from a movie. “Jaws”. Attacks on people are extremely rare in Greece.

What sharks are found in Greece

In the Greek seas there are both relatively harmless species and large predators that are best not approached. Below are the main species most often mentioned in connection with Greece and the Mediterranean Sea.

How to distinguish the main types of sharks

Great white shark – This is a heavy, powerful silhouette, a dark back and a light belly. If the fish looks like an underwater armored car with a triangular fin, it is better not to check its friendliness personally.

Video: Great white shark in the Mediterranean Sea. Where is this species found and why has it become rare?

Mako noticeably slimmer and “sportier”: elongated body, sharp snout, dark blue back. This is one of the fastest sharks, and that is why meeting it requires calm care, and not heroic filming for social networks.

Video: Mako shark: overview of the species. Appearance, speed and behavior characteristics.

Video: Mako in a Mediterranean context. About the latest mako populations in the Mediterranean and the risks to this species.

Blue shark usually appears slimmer and elongated, with long pectoral fins. It is often found further offshore, but can sometimes appear in areas where it can be seen by fishermen and vacationers.

Video: Blue shark: how to distinguish it from a mako. Useful video for visual identification.

Fox shark is the easiest to recognize: its long tail is difficult to confuse with anything else. If a fish has a tail that looks almost like a separate tool, it’s probably it.

Video: Fox shark: characteristic features. The main landmark is the very long upper blade of the tail.

Giant shark It’s scary because of its size, but not because of its diet. It filters plankton and does not prey on people. That is, it looks like a sea monster, but eats like a very large vacuum cleaner. Nature also loves irony.

Video: Basking shark/Pilgrim shark. Large, but usually harmless to humans.

Where in Greece were sharks seen?

Map showing places where sharks have been encountered

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Sharks have been recorded in almost all Greek marine areas: in Ionian Sea, Aegean Seay Cretein the area Saronic Gulf, Pagasitikosy Corfu, Evia, Loutraki, Chania and other areas. This does not mean that all these places are dangerous for swimming. This means that the sea is a living environment, and not a swimming pool with chlorine and a “no fish allowed” sign.

According to Greek publications, historically most attacks are associated with Ionian Sea And Pagasitikos. But the attacks themselves remain extremely rare events. With millions of swimmers, fishermen, divers and tourists, the risk of encountering a shark is extremely low.

Attacks on people: rare, but not fiction

According to old data, for 161 years old sightings have been recorded in Greece 14 attacks sharks on people, of them 11 ended in death. The same figures are repeated by recent Greek publications. The proportion of fatalities appears high, but this is due to the small number of episodes and the age of some of the incidents.

• 1847, Corfu: First known recorded attack. A 19-year-old British soldier was killed.
• 1903, Crete: Two sponge diver deaths.
• 1948: A fisherman died after being attacked by what was believed to be a large predatory shark.
• 1951, Mon Repos, Corfu: Fatal attack on a young woman.
• 1956, Keratea, Attica: A 15-year-old teenager died while swimming about 100 meters from the shore.
• 1963, Pagasitikos: Austrian writer and philologist Helga Pogl died while swimming just a few meters from the shore.
• 1981, Pagasitikos: A tourist from Austria survived the attack, but was seriously injured.

These stories are scary, but they span decades. In modern Greece, there is a much higher risk of drowning, getting heatstroke, getting run over by a boat, overestimating your strength, or stepping on a sea urchin. The shark just looks more impressive in the title. The sea, unfortunately, does not consult with editors at all before becoming dangerous.

Who is at greater risk?

Ordinary swimmers are rarely interested in sharks. Much more often, the risk arises among those who themselves create the “smell of food” around themselves or find themselves close to prey.

• Underwater hunters: Wounded fish, blood and vibrations can attract predators.
• Fishermen: Nets, catch, discarded fish and cutting waste increase the risk of sharks.
• Divers: especially when diving offshore or near feeding areas of large fish.
• Swimmers at sunrise and sunset: At this time, many marine predators are more active.
• People in troubled waters: The shark may make a mistake, especially if there is fishing activity nearby.

How to reduce the risk of an encounter

• Don’t swim near fishing boatsnets and places where fish or waste are thrown away.
• Don’t go into the water with bleeding wounds.
• Avoid swimming alone far from shore, especially at dawn, dusk and at night.
• Avoid wearing shiny jewelry in the water; reflections may resemble fish scales.
• If you spot a large shark nearby, calmly get out of the water. Don’t scream, hit the water, or pretend to be a wounded sardine.
• Don’t try to swim up to a shark for photos or videos. The internet is already full of stupidity, no need to become the waterproof version of it.
• When a shark appears, underwater hunters are better off releasing their prey and leaving the area.

What to do if you see a shark

Main – don’t panic. Sudden movements and splashes may attract attention. You need to calmly move towards the shore or boat, if possible without turning your back to the shark. If you are in a group, stick together: a single figure in the water looks simpler and more vulnerable to a predator.

If a shark approaches, do not try to touch it, feed it, scare it, or drive it into shallow water. Your task is not to defeat the shark, but to get out of the water. Believe me, this is one of those cases where heroism is best left to bad movie writers.

After going ashore, warn rescuers, coast guardbeach administration or local authorities. If a shark is spotted near an organized beach, people must be temporarily removed from the water until the situation is clarified.

If there was an attack

During an attack, the main danger is blood loss. You need to act quickly before help arrives.

• Remove the victim from the water immediately.
• Call for help by number 112.
• If bleeding is severe, apply direct pressure to the wound with a clean cloth, towel, or clothing.
• If bleeding from a limb is massive and does not stop, a tourniquet is needed above the wound. The time of application must be remembered and reported to doctors.
• The victim must be laid down, warmed and not allowed to get up.
• Do not wash a deep wound with sea water and do not try to “examine it beautifully.” This is not an excursion, but a trauma.

Emergency numbers in Greece

• 112 — a single European emergency number.
• 166 – ambulance ΕΚΑΒ.
• 199 – fire service and rescuers.
• 108 — coast guard.
• 100 – police.
• 171 – tourist police.

In Greece, rescue functions are often performed by Fire service. If you don’t know where to call, call 112: The operator will route the call to the desired service.

• Βοήθεια! — Whoa! – Help!
• Καλέστε ασθενοφόρο! — Kaleste astenoforo! – Call an ambulance!
• Καλέστε το λιμενικό! — Kaleste to Limeniko! – Call the coast guard!
• Υπάρχει καρχαρίας κοντά στην ακτή. — Iparhi karkharias kondastin acti. — There’s a shark off the shore.
• Υπάρχει τραυματίας. — Iparhi traumatias. – There is a casualty.
• Έχει αιμορραγία. — Ehi emoraya. — He/she is bleeding.
• Χρειαζόμαστε γιατρό. — Chryazomaste yatro. – We need a doctor.

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