Sharks in Mallorca: The Facts Behind the Headlines
Sharks in Mallorca – what's behind the headlines? Current sightings explained, facts over panic, and everything holidaymakers actually need to know.
In early June, divers on a ghost net retrieval mission in the Strait of Sicily filmed a fully grown great white shark – alive, in the wild, underwater. The video spread worldwide within hours. Since then, many Mallorca holidaymakers have been asking: are there sharks off the island too? The answer is more nuanced than most headlines suggest.
What's Actually Swimming Off Mallorca
The Mediterranean has never been shark-free. Over 30 shark species have been documented in the waters around the Balearic Islands, including blue sharks, catsharks, angel sharks and dogfish. Most live in deeper water and rarely cross paths with swimmers.
In the Cabrera National Park off the southern coast of Mallorca, a study documented a five-metre sixgill shark for the first time – an exceptionally rare species for the Mediterranean. In March 2026, a large shark was filmed during a sailing regatta in the Bay of Palma, most likely a mako, swimming calmly between the boats. A shark was also spotted and filmed in Ibiza harbour in 2026. In neither case did anything happen.
How Dangerous Are Sharks for Swimmers?
Short answer: barely at all. In the entire recorded history of Spain, only 13 shark attacks have ever been confirmed – just six of them unprovoked. In February 2026, a swimmer was injured at a Palma beach and the water was briefly closed – but experts from the Palma Aquarium Foundation concluded the wound was not caused by a shark.
Sharks in Mallorca actively avoid humans. Anyone who has an encounter typically sees a curious animal that surfaces briefly and disappears. Jellyfish, currents and rocky coves cause far more swimming incidents than shark encounters.
Why There Are More Sightings – But Not More Sharks
There is a paradox at the heart of the current news cycle: more headlines about sharks in Mallorca and the Mediterranean – but actually fewer sharks than ever before. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the shark population in the western Mediterranean has fallen by over 90 percent. Of the 56 species recorded in the Balearics, 34 are considered threatened.
What is increasing is documentation. More people with smartphones in the water, more drones, more research cameras – and a public that reacts to every sighting. The result is more attention, not more sharks.
The Great White in the Mediterranean – Put in Context
The viral video from June 2026 was not filmed off Mallorca but in the Strait of Sicily. That context matters. The great white shark in the Mediterranean is critically endangered – its global population is estimated at just 3,000 to 5,000 animals. Seeing one is a statistical rarity, not a warning sign.
The Spanish Institute of Oceanography recently confirmed a juvenile great white in Spanish Mediterranean waters genetically – a two-metre animal caught accidentally as bycatch in 2023. There is no indication of a new population, just a rare individual record.
Should You Rethink Your Mallorca Holiday?
No. Mallorca remains one of the safest swimming and travel destinations in Europe – and nothing about that has changed. Sharks in Mallorca are part of a living marine ecosystem, not a reason to stay out of the water. For guests who want to explore the underwater world of the Balearics from a safe distance, we're happy to arrange a private boat charter to the island's most beautiful coves – one of the most popular experiences among our guests.
Last updated: June 2026
