Shark sighted off Delimara point, Malta.

 Friday 13th. October 2023.

The Malta Daily published a video clip and report of a Shark sighting off Delimara point on the south east coast of Malta. Spme fishermen encountered and filmed a large shark as it swam past their boat.

I was contacted by the news agency and was asked to identify the shark. At first glance, everyone was thinking that this was a Great White Shark (Carcharodon carcharias), but the video footage published online was not very clear. 

After managing to obtain a copy of the original HD footage,  and consulting with fellow shark biologist  Ian Fergusson, who specialises in Mediterranean white sharks, we both agree that this wasd a Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus). 

Ian also pointed out that while this shark bears many characteristics of a white shark, the clear frames of the rounded apex to pectoral fin; the pelvic fin & caudal peduncle lean more to this being a particularly large Isurus oxyrinchus.

The footage indicates that this shortfin Mako measures to about 4m. It is very rare that such sharks are seen so close inshore. These sharks are protected under Maltese laws.

Malta reaches threshold for EU Citizen's Initiative.

THANK YOU MALTA.

On behalf of Sharkman's World, I want to say a big thanks to everyone who has supported and signed our Stopfinning EU Citizen's Initiative. With a targeted threshold of 4506 signatures, Malta has now obtained a total of 4561 signatures. We are the fourth EU nation to reach our goal. France, Portugal and Germany are the other 3 countries that have reached their quota. Thank You.

For those that have not yet signed, you still have the chance to do so. The more names the better our voices will be heard. If you already signed, pass this on to your European friends so that we can help other countries to reach their target.

Sharks need us to protect them👍🦈

https://www.stop-finning-eu.org/

IMPORTANT NEWS

Due to serious personal and health issues, this blog has not been updated for a few years. I will try to start doing regular updates as much as possible. Here is the first important news. 

Sharkman's World and Sharklab-Malta have always believed that collaboration is the most powerful of tools. It is through this that Sharkman's World website is now officially integrating years of precious and important research and information into the Sharklab-Malta website. 

Sharklab-Malta and I will continue to work side by side as we have since the beginning to collectively make a difference. 

As of today, the official new link is: Sharkman’s World – Sharklab-Malta (https://sharklab-malta.org/sharkmans-world/)

14 Shark species now protected in Malta.

Finally, the long awaited updated list of protected species in Malta has been released. The new revised list now has 14 Shark species and 5 species of Rays totally protected. 

The following list forms part of Legal Notice L.N.322 of 2013. Under schedule VI the following species are totally protected:

Sphyrna lewini - Scalloped Hammerhead

Sphyrna mokarran - Great Hammerhead

Sphyrna zygaena - Common Hammerhead

Galeorhinus galeus - Tope Shark

Carcharodon carcharias - Great White Shark

Isurus oxyrinchus -  Shortfin Mako Shark

Lamna nasus - Porbeagle Shark

Carcharias taurus -  Sandtiger Shark

Odontaspis ferox -  Small Tooth Sandtiger Shark

Oxynotus centrina - Angular Rough Shark

Cetorhinus maximus - Basking Shark

Squatina  aculeata  -  Saw-backed Angel Shark

Squatina  oculata  -  Smooth back Angel Shark

Squatina squatina  - Angel Shark

Mobula mobular - Devil Ray

Gymnura altavela - Butterfly Ray

Dipturus batis  - Blue Grey Skate

Leucoraja melitensis - Maltese Brown Ray

Rostroraja alba - White Skate

Also another 12 Shark species are listed under schedule VIII which are species whose taking and exploitation may be subject to management measures. These are;

Alopias vulpinus - Thresher Shark

Carcharhinus brevipinna - Spinner Shark

Carcharhinus limbatus - Blacktip Shark

Carcharhinus plumbeus - Sandbar Shark

Prionace glauca - Blue Shark

Mustelus asterias -  Starry Smooth-hound Shark

Mustelus mustelus - Common Smooth-hound Shark

Mustelus punctulatus - Blackspotted Smooth-hound Shark

Heptranchias perlo - Sharpnose Sevengill Shark

Hexanchus griseus - Bluntnose Sixgill Shark

Centrophorus granulosus - Gulper Shark

Squalus acanthias - Spur dogfish, Spiny dogfish

It has been a long hard road to get up to here, and my thanks goes out to all those that were involved and helped along the way.