The shark was seen not far off shore during a regatta this weekend
Steffan Rhys Deputy Content Hub Director
10:37, 28 Mar 2026Updated 11:10, 28 Mar 2026
A male mako shark — this one is photographed swimming just under the ocean’s surface off the coast of Cabo San Lucas in Mexico(Image: Getty)
A large shark has been spotted in the sea in Majorca just weeks after a great white was caught in Spanish waters. Majorca Daily Bulletin is reporting today that the “shark of considerable size caused a fright” on Friday during a regatta in Palma Bay.
One of the sailors filmed the shark seemingly swimming calmly as dozens of sailing boats took part in the event not far from shore. The Majorca Daily News reports: “Although rare, sightings of this kind can occur at certain times of the year in Balearic waters.”
In the video footage, it is not immediately obvious exactly what kind of shark it is. Shark expert Juan Poyatos told Majorca Daily News that it appeared to be a mako shark, which is described by the BBC as an “ocean going predator” and “a supreme hunter” which “hunts some of the fastest fish in the sea and has evolved to be even faster”.
Aniol Esteban, director of the Marilles Foundation, told Majorca Daily News: “It is very difficult to identify with certainty, but everything points to it being from the family Lamnidae. These include the mako, the great white shark and the porbeagle, which, incidentally, is the species that was observed in Cabrera in 2018.”
The BBC says of the mako shark: “This ocean-going predator is a supreme hunter. It hunts some of the fastest fish in the sea, and has evolved to be even faster. They can sprint at 30 mph but no one really knows how fast they can go. But one thing is for sure; this shark was built for speed. To ensure a meal, the mako shark implements certain tactics when hunting. It will often attack and bite off the tail of its prey so that it can’t swim away, and the shark doesn’t have to waste any more energy chasing it. It will also vigorously defend its kill from other predators, as they can’t afford to not eat.”
In February, it was reported that scientists believe great white sharks may be breeding in the Mediterranean again after a juvenile was found by fishermen off the eastern coast of Spain. The shark measured about 210cm and weighed between 80-90kg. The species was previously thought to have disappeared from the Mediterranean. Dr José Carlos Báez said at the time: “The occurrence of juvenile specimens raises the question whether active reproduction may be occurring in the region.” However, researchers said such sightings remain exceptional events and that the species was rare in the region, though another one was accidentally caught in 2023.
Juan Poyatos told Majorca Daily News: “All these species have suffered a sharp decline in the Mediterranean and some are on the brink of extinction, so their presence is always good news, even if not everyone sees it that way. A sea with sharks is a healthy sea. And right now, the Mediterranean and the Balearic Sea have lost the vast majority of them.”