In a critical marine conservation effort, scientists are sounding the alarm about the dramatic decline of great white sharks in the Mediterranean Sea, with evidence suggesting these majestic predators could disappear entirely within the next decade.

Groundbreaking research led by Dr. Francesco Ferretti from Virginia Tech reveals a devastating picture of marine ecosystem collapse. Working alongside the UK's Blue Marine Foundation, the research team discovered that at least 40 great white sharks have been killed in North African waters during 2025, despite international legal protections that make hunting these creatures explicitly illegal.

The team's ambitious two-week expedition in the Strait of Sicily - considered a final refuge for threatened shark species - aimed to satellite tag a Mediterranean great white shark, a feat never before accomplished. Equipped with three tonnes of fish bait, 500 litres of tuna oil, and advanced underwater camera technology, the researchers hoped to track and study these critically endangered marine predators.

Despite their extensive efforts, the scientific team captured only a fleeting glimpse of a single blue shark, highlighting the ecosystem's profound degradation. Dr. Ferretti expressed profound disappointment, noting that the Mediterranean Sea is arguably the most intensively fished marine environment globally, which has dramatically accelerated shark population decline.

Disturbingly, independent investigations by the BBC have uncovered social media footage documenting protected shark species being landed in North African ports. Videos from Algeria and Tunisia show great white and short-finned mako sharks being brought ashore and prepared for market sale, directly violating international conservation agreements.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the Mediterranean white shark population as Critically Endangered, with researchers estimating that industrial fishing practices have pushed these magnificent creatures to the brink of extinction. The research team's monitoring of fishing ports along the North African coast continues to reveal systematic violations of protective maritime regulations.

While 24 shark species currently enjoy international legal protection, enforcement remains a significant challenge. The stark reality confronting marine biologists is that without immediate, coordinated conservation efforts, great white sharks could vanish from the Mediterranean within a generation - a potential ecological catastrophe with far-reaching consequences for marine biodiversity.