A widely shared video on social networks in Tunisia shows the presence of a large white shark off Gammarth, in the northern suburbs of Tunis.
The author of the video, a citizen by the name of Taïeb Sassi, accompanied his publication of the following comment: “A great white shark in Gammarth today, thank you to Mother Nature for this magnificent show, one of my dreams came true! ». According to him, the shark was devouring the carcass of a dolphin.
This is not the first time that a white shark has been spotted off the Tunisian coast. Last January, amateur fishermen had already been surprised by the appearance of a similar specimen near their boat, about four nautical miles from the Côtes de Mahres, in the governorate of Sfax.
Questioned previously by Mosaic FM, the researcher in marine sciences Samira Najjar wanted to reassure the dangerousness of this species. She said that the great white shark is not a predator for man and that rumors that he feeds on human flesh are unfounded.
She also pointed out that this type of shark is threatened with extinction, especially due to accidental fishing, which often affects small individuals, as well as marine pollution. Due to its slow growth, it only manages to reproduce between 10 and 15 years and has a low fertility rate.
The specialist recalled that sharks occupy the top of the food chain and that their disappearance could seriously disturb the ecological balance. She also specified that Tunisian waters house several species of sharks, the most common of which is the gray shark, which measures on average 2.5 meters and whose fishing period is in summer.
