12 kilometers off the coast: Fisherman pulls great white shark from the Adriatic

A fisherman has caught a young great white shark in the Adriatic Sea. Experts from the Institute of Marine Biology in Montenegro are examining images of the animal.

In the Mediterranean, the population of these predatory fish is threatened, the institute states in a detailed Facebook post: "Although the opposite is often assumed, the species naturally enters the Adriatic and is native to the entire Mediterranean. However, its population is significantly lower than before."

According to the post, fisherman Gojko Mitrović handed over the images to the Institute of Marine Biology at the University of Montenegro. The animal was reportedly caught 12 kilometers offshore and at a depth of 115 meters.

While great white sharks are not uncommon, sightings are rare. The " Krone " also reports that the fisherman released the shark after photographing it.

The institute also emphasizes in the post that attacks on humans are rare. Nevertheless, "most people have an innate fear" of the animals – not least thanks to films like "Jaws," which propagate the myth of the bloodthirsty fish. In reality, however, the frequency of shark attacks on humans is significantly lower than that of many other animals.

Just a few months ago, a gigantic great white shark was spotted off the coast of Florida. The animal, named "Contender," is over four meters long and weighs around 750 kilograms. According to the organization Oceanarch, it is the " largest male great white shark ever caught, tagged, and released." The shark was released on January 17 and is wearing a transmitter that will monitor its movements for five years. Oceanarch was able to collect important biological samples from it.

First spotted off the coast of Georgia, Contender has since traveled approximately 170 miles (270 kilometers) and was last located off St. Augustine, Florida. The shark is described by Oceanarch as "a true ocean giant" and "the ultimate ocean warrior." Its name comes from a partner boat rental company of the researchers.