- A shark-like creature was spotted close to shore in Stavros, Chania.
- The animal seemed disoriented, swimming near the rocks.
- Authorities were alerted and followed proper procedures.
- Experts confirm 36 shark species live in Greek waters.
- A 90-year iSea study shows sharks, rays, and ghost sharks are everywhere in Greece — literally everywhere.
- No need to panic: shark attacks here are almost mythical.
When a Shark Meets a Sunday Swimmer
You go to Stavros Beach for a lazy Sunday swim, maybe a coffee, maybe to ponder your choices in life — and then a shark shows up.
That is what happened this Sunday, when passersby noticed a shark-like creature wriggling uncomfortably close to the shore, fighting the waves like a tourist with one flipper missing.
The scene, caught on video by zarpanews.gr, drew a mix of awe and mild panic. Phones came out faster than lifeguards, and within minutes, authorities were informed “so that all the proper procedures could be followed” — a phrase that usually means everyone just watched from a safe distance while the fish sorted itself out.
Marine biologists later reassured the public that the shark — or karxarioeidés, as it is known in Greek — was almost certainly harmless. In fact, 36 such species are known to inhabit Greek waters, most of which are as innocuous as a Cretan goat.
Greece: Shark Central (Who Knew?)
According to a 90-year study by the environmental organization iSea, presented recently to the European Elasmobranch Association in Thessaloniki, there is not a single marine area in Greece that sharks, rays, or chimaeras have not visited.
Yes — every bay, every cove, every summer selfie spot.
The study recorded 4,540 instances of:
- 33 species of sharks
- 29 species of rays
- and one ghost shark (because Greece would not be Greece without something spectral involved)
The data was pieced together from academic theses, biodiversity databases, citizen science projects, social media sightings, and other sources. Interestingly, 55% of those sightings were never published in scientific journals, and 20% came from ordinary citizens who probably just wanted to know if they should keep their feet out of the water.
Environmental scientist Roxani Nasan Aga-Spyridopoulou, who helped compile the research, said the goal was to create a foundation for more targeted conservation efforts and “kick-start a new era of shark research.”
Translation: Greece has always had sharks; we are just finally keeping score.
Between 2010 and 2023 alone, over 2,500 shark and ray sightings were officially recorded. And if you think this is a new trend — well, Aristotle was already writing about them 2,400 years ago.
The Sharks of the Mediterranean
Of the 47 species known to lurk around the Mediterranean, a few are occasionally labelled “dangerous.” However, you are more likely to be bumped by a sea cucumber.
Potentially dangerous species in the Mediterranean include:
- Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) – 10 sightings between 1985 and 2015
- Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) – unconfirmed
- Bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas) – suspected, not proven
- Blacktip shark (Carcharhinus limbatus)
- Smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena)
- Scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)
- Great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)
- Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)
- Grey nurse or sand tiger (Carcharias taurus)
- Sandbar shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
- Spinner shark (Carcharhinus brevipinna)
- Copper shark (Carcharhinus brachyurus)
- Blue shark (Prionace glauca)
- Sharp-nose sevengill shark (Heptranchias perlo)
- Oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus)
Most of these species prefer deeper waters — 200 meters or more — far beyond the reach of snorkelers, swimmers, and the occasional floating tourist sandwich.
No Need for Jaws Soundtrack
Greek marine scientists stress that these visitors are not a threat but rather indicators of healthy ecosystems. Sharks help keep fish populations in check, eliminate weaker species, and contribute to the balance of marine life.
Encounters near shore are typically caused by currents, injury, or confusion — not hunger.
The odds of an unprovoked shark attack in Greece are so low that your frappe is statistically more likely to attack your stomach first.
Still, if you spot one: do not panic, do not chase it for Instagram, and definitely do not try to pet it.
The sea may be beautiful, but it is not a petting zoo.
