The fish, possibly a shark, navigated the shallow waters, seemingly hunting schools of smaller fish near the coastline of the Greek capital. Credit: Public Domain
A large shark-like fish was spotted swimming remarkably close to the beaches of Kavouri, part of the Athenian Riviera in Greece, on Monday afternoon, startling visitors to the seaside and local residents.
According to eyewitnesses, the creature was about 1.5 meters (5 ft) in length, with its dorsal fin clearly visible, breaking the surface of the water. Video footage captured by bystanders shows the large fish moving through shallow waters, seemingly hunting schools of smaller fish near the coastline.
The sighting resulted in a brief stir on the beach, as onlookers gathered along the water to film the rare visitor. While sightings this close to the capital are rare, experts often note that such species are typically harmless to humans.
Sharks in Greek waters
Thirty-three shark and twenty stingray species have been recorded in seas around Greece in the last ninety years, environmental organization iSea recently reported. According to a recent study, the deadliest decade for recorded shark attacks in Greek waters was the 1950s. Over the span of this decade, there were a total of six incidents, five of which proved fatal.
The overall picture, however, is that shark attacks in Greece are rare. Over the 180 years examined in the study, only 17 recorded incidents have occurred.
Related:Â Greek Fisherman Catches and Releases Shark Over 8 Feet Long