Are There Sharks In Barcelona? (Detailed Guide)


Barcelona is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and is the capital of Catalonia, Spain. As the city is in the Mediterranean Sea, it’s natural that some species of sharks call the seas of Barcelona home.

There are 47 species of sharks in Barcelona. However, shark attacks are rare, with only one non-fatal incident registered on July 3, 1926. The most common sharks in Barcelona are Blue Sharks, Sand Tiger Sharks, Blacktip Sharks, Grey Nurse Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, and even Great Whites.

In this article, you’ll learn all the details about sharks in Barcelona. Including shark species, recent beach closures due to shark activity, and the few attacks ever registered in or near the capital of Catalonia.

Finally, I wrote an entire section listing all the attacks (provoked and unprovoked) that ever happened in Spain and discovered through data analysis which should be the “usual suspect,” that is, the shark species that is involved in most of the attacks in the country.

To learn all about sharks in Barcelona, keep reading.

Are There Sharks In Barcelona?

Are There Sharks In Barcelona?

Sharks are all over the Mediterranean Sea, including in Barcelona. The shallow waters near the beaches are not very inviting to the sharks, but eventual sightings occur in the region.

As people are not used to seeing many of these incredible animals, some may think that there are no sharks in the area. Nonetheless, it’s not true. It’s a common misconception about sharks. That’s why it’s important to remember: just because you can’t see a shark does not mean they aren’t there.

There are 47 species of sharks in Barcelona. All forty-seven shark species live in the waters of the Mediterranean. Still, the most common species near Catalonia’s capital are the Blue Sharks, Sand Tiger Sharks, Blacktip Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, and Great Whites.

Despite the presence of a considerable amount of species in the area, shark attacks in Barcelona and even in the entire country are rare events. In Spain, since 1764, 9 shark-related deaths have occurred (the last in 1912). Still, shark sightings are becoming more frequent.

Less than a month ago, five beaches were closed in Barcelona due to the presence of 3 sharks: two blue sharks and one shortfin mako shark. Blue sharks are regular visitors to Barcelona, but the Shortfin Mako caught attention as it’s not a common species in the Balearic Sea. The sharks that can be more easily found in Barcelona are:

  • Blue Sharks
  • Sand Tiger Sharks
  • Nurse Sharks
  • Hammerhead Sharks
  • Blacktip Sharks
  • Great White Sharks
  • Catsharks
  • Spinner Sharks
  • Tiger Sharks
  • Bull Sharks

This list shows an interesting fact: some of these sharks are considered dangerous (including the White Shark, which has been credited with more fatal attacks on humans than any other species of shark). Still, shark attacks in Barcelona are almost non-existent. Tiger Sharks and Bull Sharks are also very aggressive and have been involved in hundreds of incidents with humans around the world.

This is a clear indication that, although they did happen, shark attacks on humans are extremely rare, and most of the time, they happen by the mistake of animals or situations caused by human beings.

Related Article: Are There Sharks In Rio De Janeiro? (Rio Sharks Guide)

Sharks In Barcelona: What Species Are There?

In total, as said before, there are 47 species of sharks in the waters of the Mediterranean Sea. Even though there’s a chance for all of them to be found in Barcelona, some are easier to found, therefore, more common to the area.

  • Total Number of Shark Species In Barcelona: 47
  • Most Frequently Seen: Blue Sharks
  • Most Dangerous/Aggressive Species: Great White Sharks, Bull Sharks, Tiger Sharks
  • Biggest Sharks Found In Barcelona: Great White Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks

Tiger sharks, Bull sharks, and White sharks are commonly referred to as “The Big Three” for their involvement in shark attacks, and the three species can be found in the Mediterranean Sea (and Barcelona). Still, the number of attacks is very low and sightings, especially of Great Whites, are rare.

In the following table, you can check the top 10 species of sharks that are more common in Barcelona.

SpeciesScientific NameMax SizeAggressiveness
Blue SharksPrionace glaucaUp to 4 m
(13 ft)
Not Aggressive
(Curious, Approach Humans)
Sand Tiger SharksCarcharias taurusUp to 3.2 m
(10.5 ft)
Not Aggressive
(Potentially Dangerous)
Nurse SharksGinglymostoma cirratumUp to 4.2 m
(14 ft)
Not Aggressive
(Potentially Dangerous)
Hammerhead SharksSphyrna mokarranUp to 6.1 m
(20 ft)
Not Aggressive
(Potentially Dangerous)
Blacktip SharksCarcharhinus limbatusUp to 2 m
(6.5 ft)
Not Aggressive
(Potentially Dangerous)
Great White SharksCarcharodon carchariasUp to 7 m
(23 ft)
Very Aggressive
(Extremely Dangerous)
CatsharksPoroderma pantherinumUp to 1 m
(3 ft)
Not Aggressive
(Harmless)
Spinner SharksCarcharhinus brevipinnaUp to 2 m
(6.5 ft)
Not Aggressive
(Potentially Dangerous)
Tiger SharksGaleocerdo cuvierUp to 5 m
(16.5 ft)
Very Aggressive
(Extremely Dangerous)
Bull SharksCarcharhinus leucasUp to 2.1 m
(6.8 ft)
Very Aggressive
(Extremely Dangerous)

Those are the most common sharks found in the Mediterranean and Barcelona. But as you know now, they’re not the only ones. There are at least 37 more species in the area. In the list below, you can check some other species that call Barcelona waters its home.

  • Portuguese Dogfish
  • Gulper and Little Gulper shark
  • Sixgill shark
  • Dusky shark
  • Silky shark
  • Bignose shark
  • Milk shark
  • Thresher shark species
  • Longnose spurdog
  • Piked dogfish
  • Sixgill shark species
  • Velvet Belly shark
  • Tope shark
  • Smoothhound shark
  • Cookiecutter shark
  • Nursehound shark
  • Little sleeper shark
  • Smalltooth Sand Tiger shark
  • Angel sharks (one of the species involved in most of the attacks in Spain)
  • Angular Roughshark
  • Porbeagle
  • Kitefin shark
  • Longfin Mako shark

Related Article: Are There Sharks In The English Channel? (Full Guide)

Shark Attacks In Barcelona: All Incidents

Angel Sharks and Blue Sharks are the species involved in most of the attacks in Spain. In Barcelona, the one and the only incident involved a 2-meter-long shark of unidentified species and a male called Sebastian Llopis Puges, who suffered no injuries.

However, this incident is in check, as the GSAF authority C. Moore marked this episode as questionable. It doesn’t mean it never happened, just that there are gaps in the story, like if it was a shark or maybe a dolphin or any other sea animal.

In the following table, you can find all the incidents involving sharks ever registered in Spain. There is only one episode in Barcelona (discussed above) and one near Barcelona, in Badalona, Eastern Catalonia. It was an unprovoked fatal shark attack on July 25, 1864. The victim was a male that was bathing in the evening. The shark species was not identified.

DateAreaLocationActivityIncident TypeFatal?
26 May 2020Canary IslandsFamara BeachPlayingUnprovokedNo
16-Sep-2017Canary IslandsGran CanariaBody surfingUnprovokedNo
26-Aug-2017CastellónGrao de MoncofaSwimmingInvalidNo

23-Jul-2017MajorcaEstanys BeachSwimmingUnprovokedNo
17-Jun-2017Ibiza IslandPlaya d’en BossaSwimmingUnprovokedNo
29-Jul-2016Alicante ProvinceArenales del SolSwimmingUnprovokedNo
08-Jul-2016Canary IslandsTenerifeWadingUnprovokedNo
25-Dec-2015Grand Canary IslandGran CanariaSwimmingUnprovokedNo
18-Aug-2015AlicantePoniente BeachSwimmingInvalidNo
03-Dec-2014GranadaOff MotrilFishing for blue sharksProvokedNo
Sep-2014CataloniaSalouPlaying with an air mattressUnprovokedNo
27-Aug-2014AlicanteBenidormSwimmingUnprovokedNo
20-Jul-2014Canary IslandsTenerifeWadingUnprovokedNo
07-Jul-2013CataloniaSant Marti d’EmpuriesSwimmingInvalidNo
16-Jul-2010Grand Canary IslandSardina del NorteSwimmingProvokedNo
24-Jul-2009CatalunyaSant SalvadorSwimmingInvalidNo

13-Jul-2006AlicanteSan Juan BeachSwimmingInvalidNo

03-Sep-1993Costa BlancaValenciaSwimmingUnprovokedNo
Apr-1986CataloniaLloret-de-MarDivingUnprovokedNo
18-Mar-1986CádizTarifaWindsurfingUnprovokedNo
26-Jul-1980Canary IslandsTenerifeSkin divingUnprovokedNo
Late 1970sCanary IslandsTenerifeSpearfishingUnprovokedNo
1962CataloniaAigua BlavaDangling feet in the waterUnprovokedNo
16-Aug-1930Canary IslandsTenerifeSwimmingUnprovokedNo
02-Oct-1929ValenciaNasareth BeachFishingUnprovokedNo
03-Jul-1926Sants-MontjicBarcelonaBathingInvalid: missing more informationNo
04-Sep-1925ValenciaValenciaFishingProvokedNo
24-Mar-1924GalicaSisargas IslandsFishingWatercraftNo
08-Jul-1916Gran CanariaLas PalmasDivingUnprovokedNo
1912BalearicsIsla CabreraFell into the waterUnprovokedYes
31-Jul-1911MálagaCeutaBathingUnprovokedYes
27-Apr-1909AndaluciaPuente MayorgaFishingProvokedNo
28-Aug-1908GaliciaCape FinisterreFell overboard from P&O steamship ArabiaUnprovokedYes
18-Jul-1908Canary IslandsLa PalmaShark caught with human remains.Invalid: Shark involvement
prior to death unconfirmed.

Yes
22-Sep-1879ValenciaCastellon de la PlanaFishingProvokedNo
25-Jul-1864Eastern CatalonaBadalonaBathingUnprovokedYes
15-Aug-1862UnknownA Spanish portBathingUnprovokedNo
02-Aug-1862MalagaFuengirolaInvalid: possible drowning and scavenging.Yes

25-Jul-1862MalagaSan AndresSwimmingUnprovokedYes
14-Jul-1862CádizOff AlgecirasUnprovokedYes
13-Jul-1862CádizOff AlgecirasSwimming alongside the SS KearsargeUnprovokedYes
26-Jul-1836UnknownUnknownShark caught with human remains.Invalid: Shark involvement
prior to death unconfirmed.
Yes
08-Jul-1819CádizUnknownInvalid: no injury, no attackNo
1764UnknownGuadalquivir RiverSwimmingUnprovokedYes
Before 2012Canary IslandsTenerifeSkin divingUnprovokedNo

Related Questions

Are there sharks at Barcelona beaches? There are 47 species of sharks that can be found on Barcelona beaches. However, shark attacks and even sightings in this region of the Mediterranean Sea are very rare. The more common shark in the area is the Blue Shark.

Are there shark attacks in Spain? There are shark attacks in Spain, but they are very rare. Since 1764, 44 incidents with sharks have been registered in the country: 29 unprovoked, 5 provoked, and 10 invalid registers (missing information), with 9 deaths in total.

Do great white sharks live in Spain? Great White Sharks can be found in Spain, but sightings are rare. There are 47 species of sharks in the Mediterranean Sea, and the most common to see in Spain are the Blue Sharks and Angel Sharks.

What sharks live near Spain? Forty-seven shark species are living near Spain, and the more common are: Blue Sharks, Angel Sharks, Sand Tiger Sharks, Nurse Sharks, Hammerhead Sharks, Blacktip Sharks, Great White Sharks, Catsharks, Spinner Sharks, Tiger Sharks, and Bull Sharks.

Sources

André Bonassoli

What’s up guys. I’m André, and I've been passionate about Sharks for as long as I can remember! I’ve created this site to share different things with you that I’ve learned and am constantly learning. Whether you're just here with some simple questions or you're passionate about Sharks as well, I'm glad you're here!

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