Ibiza is one of the four wonderful islands off the eastern coast of Spain in the Balearic Sea and a part of the Balearic Islands archipelago. It is incredibly famous among tourists as a party center and a beautiful location.
Since it is right in the center of the Mediterranean, it is surrounded by crystal clear water and a lot of amazing marine life as well. This includes an array of different predatory fishes as well.
You might be wondering, does Ibiza have sharks, and if it does, what kind of sharks can be found near Ibiza’s shores? Well, if these are your questions, then you’ve come to the right place.
Today I’m going to talk about sharks in Ibiza and whether the infamous great white shark is there or not.
We will also discuss the different types of sharks you can find when aboard a boat in the Mediterranean Sea. So, without wasting any further time, let’s get started with this guide.
Ibiza Sharks
Due to Ibiza being in the midst of the Mediterranean Sea and the sea lying within the swim route of large fishes and sharks in the Spanish region, yes, the island of Ibiza does have sharks.
However, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to meet one a few meters away from the shore of its beaches. There are sharks near the Island of Ibiza but not surrounding the island like a booby trap.
Far off in the distance, Ibiza can be considered an island that has sharks because it lies within the Balearic Sea. If this is a cause of concern for you, please don’t be worried as you will not be endangered on the beaches.
But if this fact excites you, know that taking a ferry or a boat ride might help you witness these majestic creatures yourself as well, especially since a 5-meter (16.4 feet) shark was observed near Ibiza for the first time since the 1970s.
So, as an explorer, it is definitely a cause for excitement and fun. You’re not only going to be able to enjoy your stay in Ibiza, but you’ll also be able to witness these beautiful predators from a safe distance if you choose to.
Are there Great White Sharks in Ibiza?
There are great white sharks near Ibiza in the Mediterranean Sea, but if you’re thinking that you’re going to get bit by one, you don’t need to be worried.
Even though a massive great white shark was witnessed near the sea surrounding the island of Ibiza a few years ago, they never come near enough to cause harm to humans as long as they’re left alone.
But make sure you don’t try to mess around with them if you’re on a boat and you get the honor of seeing one.
Sharks are predators that won’t create problems for you since they don’t view you as food.
Even as big as the Great White, it is recorded that sharks don’t actually consider humans their prey. They only rarely attack humans if they’re scared or confused about them. It is best not to make them feel either emotion when you’re near them.
So, yes, there are great white sharks in Ibiza. You’ll rarely end up seeing one but keep your hopes up and make sure you take a boat ride when you’re in Ibiza and who knows if you end up being lucky enough!
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What Type of Sharks is in Ibiza?
Due to being within such a hugely populated body of water, Ibiza is home to a variety of different kinds of sharks. These sharks differ in characteristics, shapes, sizes, genus, families, and visual aspects, each of them being more beautiful than the other.
If you’re thinking of heading to Ibiza, you should know about these different types of sharks. Let’s take a look at some of the commonly found ones that you might have the honor of witnessing when you’re exploring the seas around the island.
Squatina Shark (Angelshark)
The Squatina Shark, also known as the Angelshark or the Monkfish, is a member of the Squatinidae family of fishes. They resemble stingrays visually, but they’re nothing like them. Squatina sharks are usually considered harmless, but it is best to avoid them.
They prefer to live near sandy sea beds at a depth of around 150 meters (492 feet), so it is unlikely that you’re going to see one just floating around when you’re on a boat trip with your friends near Ibiza. But they are known to be found by fishers near Ibiza.
These sharks tend to eat small fishes and are known as silent hunters due to their unique way of breathing using gill flaps located under their bodies. It is a rare species of sharks and will only be found in the Spanish seas and a few neighboring ones.
Great White Sharks
The Great White Shark, also known as the white shark, is a large mackerel shark found in the coastal surface waters of nearly every ocean, including the Mediterranean Sea. Despite being a rare species, they’re known to be spread around the world’s seas.
These sharks are gigantic, typically around 5-8 meters (16-26 feet), and are known to consume penguins, sea lions, other fishes, and even other sharks at times.
They are often seen swimming on the surface level, which is why the chances that you’ll see a Great White are better than the chances that you end up seeing an Angelshark. So, good luck if you’re going out in the seas to explore.
Shortfin Mako Shark
The Shortfin Mako Shark, also known as the Bonito Shark, is also a large mackerel shark that can reach lengths of up to 4 meters (13 feet). This shark weighs around 60-140 kilograms (132-308 lbs) on average as an adult and is considered a quick and sharp predator in the seas.
The Mako shark can be found in the Mediterranean Sea, which is why it is considered one of the sharks you might see around Ibiza as well. According to the IUCN, this species of shark is endangered, and their number is declining with every passing day.
Due to you being an environment-friendly human and a lover of nature, you should contribute to supporting and preserving this beautiful creature and raise awareness of ocean littering so that this and more precious species of marine life can be saved and kept the right way. It is the only way for our planet to prosper.
Blue Shark
Blue Sharks, also known as the Great Blue Sharks, are a species of requiem shark found in the world’s tropical and temperate oceans, which is exactly why they’re also located near the Spanish Balearic Islands and near the Island of Ibiza.
These sharks are known to be docile. However, the sad fact is that they’re often hunted and sought as game fish due to their beauty and speed. Over hundreds of years, the blue sharks haven’t attacked humans, yet humans keep attacking and hunting this wondrous creature.
According to IUCN, these sharks are considered Near Threatened globally, which means their number is declining at a threatening pace. These beautiful creatures need to be preserved as they’re one of the fastest swimming shark species that can even surprisingly leap out of the water, which is a majestic scene. So, here’s hoping that you get to witness them in action.
Basking Shark
The Basking Shark is the second largest shark (the whale shark is the largest) and is a plankton-eating shark. Basking sharks can reach lengths of up to 8 meters (26 feet) and even more at times and weigh a lot.
The thing about the Basking Shark is that although it is large enough to be able to consume humans, it doesn’t. It, in fact, prefers to eat smaller fish and plankton and only resorts to eating other things when it is out of food, and the search is getting difficult.
These sharks resemble whales more than sharks, but they’re in the family of sharks. Basking sharks are considered harmless creatures, but they’re not as friendly as dolphins, so do not mistake their non-appetite for humans to be an invitation for you to mess around with them if you see them.
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Conclusion
Sharks help preserve the balance of marine life in the seas and the oceans of the Spanish islands and around the world. That’s why appreciating ones in Ibiza and the rest of the world is the responsibility of every person who is a friend of the environment.
There is an amazing variety of fish and sharks in the Balearic Islands, and you need to help preserve them. In this article, we looked at different types of sharks you will see on the island of Ibiza.
Maybe you are wondering about How to Get Around in Ibiza?
Blue sharks are one of the most common species of sharks found in this part of the world. There have also been stories of sharks attacking the tourists, but it’s very rare. The latest case of a shark attack was seen in 2016 after a gap of 30 years, which is a long gap.
