Are there any sharks living in the Portugal seas?

Answer 1

Sharks are found the world over. Sharks are found in all oceans at all points. Sharks are even found in a number of rivers (as far north as St. Louis in the Mississippi, and to Kentucky up the Ohio River), and bull sharks live in and migrate to the largest lake in Central America, Lake Nicaragua.

Answer 2

Yes, there are many sharks in portuguese continental waters. Even great whites, although rare sightings have been reported.

In 1976, one of the largest Carcharodon carcharias (if not the largest) was caught by a fishing trawler in Azores (a middle Atlantic Ocean portuguese archipelago). This great white was caught in a drift net, killed with harpoons, but was so big and heavy it was not possible to take it inside the boat.

National Geographic Society published in its magazine the news, and accounted for a possible total lenght of 12.7 meters, according to witness. These facts can be easily confirmed by anyone with access to late issues of this highly respected scientific magazine.

I am a portuguese university professor (now retired) and, after reading the NGS article, I get in touch by telephone with the Universidade dos Açores, for more detailed informations. I was amazed to know that no scientist had made any investigation, measurements or photographic register.

This university has a Department of Oceanography, created in the same year of 1976, but no research marine investigator or professor took the trouble of investigate this event. Therefore, there is today no scientifical proof that this shark was ever caught in Azores...

I went personally to Azores, in 1983, on my expenses and during my summer vacations because the University I worked with (the Universidade Livre do Porto) had no Marine Biology or an Oceanographic Department, and showed no interest either.

I was unable to find the capitan of the trawler that captured this shark, but I was told in Vila Franca do Campo, a fishing village in São Miguel island, by local fishermen who remembered very well the arrival of the trawler to the local small harbor, that the «tubarão monstruoso» was cut in pieces in the next couple of days after the arrival of the trawler, and sold in the local fish market by the kilogram for peanuts, and the jaws was sold to a tourist!

Much later, I noticed in the GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION FACILITY that this event is still marked as «Observed», but not as «Confirmed».

Answer 3

No.

I am sorry to correct this answer, but there are many sharks in portuguese waters. Even great whites.

However, there only one confirmed register of a shark attack in the portuguese coast, near Sines; no fatalities, only an attack to a small fishing boat, decades ago. Few details are know.

In Algarve waters, sharks are very common, specially small to medium size hammersharks like Sphyrna lewini. Happily, there is no attack shark ever registered in Algarve's waters.

This hammerhead shark species was my only encounter with a shark during my amateur diver activity in Algarve.

It was rather large, bigger than myself, perhaps 2 meters long, and he swimmed slowly around me, curious and keeping distance.

Useless to say I carefully get back to my father's boat, which was anchored about 5 miles from the coastline, in front of Tavira city.

Answer 4

Yes, there are many sharks in portuguese waters. Even great whites, although rarely seen, and almost never near the coastline.

Most of the sharks in portuguese waters are deep-sea species, although in Algarve's warm sea waters sharks are common, specially hammerhead sharks like Sphyrna lewini, among other small to medium size hammerhead species.

Happily, there is no attack shark ever registered in Algarve's waters.

Answer 5

There are many sharks in portuguese waters. Even great whites.

However, there only one confirmed register of a shark attack in the portuguese coast, near Sines; no fatalities, only an attack to a small fishing boat, decades ago. Few details are know.

In Algarve waters, sharks are very common, specially small to medium size hammersharks likeSphyrna lewini. Happily, there is no attack shark ever registered in Algarve's waters.

This hammerhead shark species was my only encounter with a shark during my amateur diver activity in Algarve.

It was rather large, bigger than myself, perhaps 2 meters long, and he swimmed slowly around me, curious and keeping distance.

Useless to say I carefully get back to my father's boat, which was anchored about 5 miles from the coastline, in front of Tavira city.

Answer 6

Yes.

There are many sharks in portuguese waters. Even great whites.

However, there only one confirmed register of a shark attack in the portuguese coast, near Sines; no fatalities, only an attack to a small fishing boat, decades ago. Few details are know.

In Algarve waters, sharks are very common, specially small to medium size hammersharks like Sphyrna lewini. Happily, there is no attack shark ever registered in Algarve's waters.

This hammerhead shark species was my only encounter with a shark during my amateur diver activity in Algarve.

It was rather large, bigger than myself, perhaps 2 meters long, and he swimmed slowly around me, curious and keeping distance.

Useless to say I carefully get back to my father's boat, which was anchored about 5 miles from the coastline, in front of Tavira city.

Answer 7

Yes, there are many sharks in portuguese waters. Even great whites.

However, there only one confirmed register of a shark attack in the portuguese coast, near Sines; no fatalities, only an attack to a small fishing boat, decades ago. Few details are know.

In Algarve waters, sharks are very common, specially small to medium size hammersharks like Sphyrna lewini. Happily, there is no attack shark ever registered in Algarve's waters.

This hammerhead shark species was my only encounter with a shark during my amateur diver activity in Algarve.

It was rather large, bigger than myself, perhaps 2 meters long, and he swimmed slowly around me, curious and keeping distance.

Useless to say I carefully get back to my father's boat, which was anchored about 5 miles from the coastline, in front of Tavira city.

Answer 8

Off Sines in the Setubal District of northwest Portugalis the only known site of a shark attack off Portugal. Of its 4,555 entries, the Global Shark Attack File lists only that one. Entry 1195 gives no date. It identifies the event as off Sines in the Setubal District of northwest Portugal. Two small row boats were fishing for mackerel. No other details were given, other than to comment 'No injuries'.