Newsroom
A shark captured on video near the coast of Paphos has drawn widespread attention online, prompting public concern but reassurances from authorities.
The footage, filmed by spearfisher Anastasis Kavalaris, shows the shark swimming roughly 200 meters from shore at a depth of about 15 meters. Kavalaris estimated the animal measured approximately 1.8 meters long and weighed around 70 kilograms.
Cyprus’ Department of Fisheries and Marine Research identified the animal as a sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus), a species known for its tall first dorsal fin and ridge between the dorsal fins. The shark belongs to the Carcharhinidae family.
Despite the online stir, officials emphasized the species poses no danger to the public. “This shark is not considered a threat to swimmers or fishermen,” the department said, citing its diet of small prey and typical avoidance of shallow waters.
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Authorities noted that while the sandbar shark is migratory and found in oceans worldwide, tracking its population in the region remains a challenge. “It is not uncommon in Cyprus’ waters and has been recorded in the past,” officials added. “However, there is no current data on local population levels.”
Multiple shark species are present in the Mediterranean around Cyprus, including open-water types such as the blue shark (Prionace glauca) and shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus), as well as bottom-dwelling species like the bluntnose sixgill (Hexanchus griseus) and longnose spurdog (Squalus blainville).
The department stressed that only a small number of shark species worldwide are considered dangerous to humans. Many, including the sandbar shark, face declining numbers and are listed as endangered in the Mediterranean by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
