Many tourists who decide to spend their holidays on the Black Sea are concerned about the safety of swimming in its waters. The abundance of fresh shark meat in fish markets is especially alarming for guests of local resorts, indicating the close presence of marine predators. Are sharks found in the Black Sea? Indeed, some species of these fish have settled comfortably there. But do not rush to change your plans for a summer vacation: after reading the article, you will find out if sharks in the Black Sea are dangerous for humans.

Are there sharks in the Black Sea that are dangerous to humans?

The risk of a human encounter with life-threatening predators in the waters of the Black Sea is very low. The many densely populated coastal cities, intensive shipping, numerous bathers - all this does not contribute to the attractiveness of local spaces for the inhabitants of other bodies of water. The low salinity of the water and the monotony of the edible fauna do not add to the popularity of this sea.

The offspring of fish that are not adapted to large temperature extremes simply will not survive here, and adult predators will also be uncomfortable in the cold season.

Therefore, large sharks, like the Whites, who accidentally entered the Black Sea through the Bosphorus, prefer not to linger here. Faced with an environment unsuitable for life, they turn back into a familiar environment.

Until now, statistics have not recorded a single case of a shark attack on a person in the Black Sea.

What sharks are found in the Black Sea?

Of all the numerous shark species, only the katran is a permanent inhabitant of the Black Sea.

A medium-sized fish, which is popularly called a sea dog due to some similarity of heads, about a meter in size and weighing 8-12 kg, has a standard elongated shape. The body with a dark back and light sides is studded with small poisonous spines. Katrans have an excellent appetite: they attack all moving objects of a smaller size. Their diet consists of horse mackerel, anchovy and other marine life. Crabs and small dolphins are often caught in sharks' teeth. Predators feel more comfortable in the cold, therefore they live in the bottom layers, only rising to the surface at night.

In spring and autumn, these sharks living in the Black Sea move closer to the coast, and in October they again rush inland to give birth to offspring. Due to their resemblance to white and blue sharks, representatives of this breed are often filmed with visual magnification in horror films about man-eating underwater inhabitants.

Representatives of this species of marine predators are found in the Black Sea much less often than katrans. The cat shark (scillium) is not a permanent inhabitant of the local waterways. She lives in the Mediterranean Sea and only sometimes swims into the Black Sea through the Bosphorus Strait. Moving fish do not differ in impressive size: their body length is no more than a meter. Depending on the species, the scillium has a dark or variegated color.

His mouth is wide, with small and sharp fangs. The tail is shaped like an oar and acts as a rudder. Predators feed mainly on sea creatures living on the bottom - crabs, scorpions, molluscs, annelids, sometimes hunting fish. They watch for the victim, hiding behind stones or algae. Sharp eyesight and developed sense of smell allow the predator to easily find food, and thanks to its compact size and body shape, the fish is able to pursue prey at high speed.

Other shark species swim in the Black Sea quite rarely and do not stay there for a long time.

Divers and spearfishers have the greatest chances to meet a toothy hunter in the Black Sea. The sharks that live here have a highly developed caution: they perceive people not as prey, but as dangerous enemies. For this, marine predators have every reason: due to the delicate taste and nutritional value of shark meat, they often become objects of hunting. They themselves are not allowed to attack a person by their small size, therefore, both katran and scillium prefer other food.

Fans of sea bathing, who are going to Crimea for the first time on vacation, are often interested in are there sharks in the Black Sea? Both local residents living in a resort town or village, and professionals - oceanographers, who confirm that yes, sharks are found in the Black Sea and there are only two species of them - will help you get an answer to this question. Are they dangerous or not? What dangerous sharks swim in the Black Sea? Do these predators swim close to the coast? We will tell and show in this article.

Fauna of the Black Sea

The fauna of the Black Sea is not very diverse. This is due to the fact that its water is very saturated with hydrogen sulfide. For this reason, many of the representatives of the local flora and fauna simply cannot exist there. Many species of fish and inhabitants of neighboring seas do not swim into the Black Sea from the Mediterranean, because they cannot stand the smell of water saturated with hydrogen sulfide.

As you know, sharks prefer to swim in the depths of the seas, and in the Black Sea, hydrogen sulfide thickens and accumulates there. Moreover, a predator can get from the Mediterranean Sea to the Black Sea only by sailing the Dardanelles Strait, then he needs to sail the Sea of ​​Marmara and the narrow Bosphorus Strait. Both straits are not wide, but this is not a problem for the predator, but shallow water in some areas is an obstacle for them.

Shark species of the Black Sea: katran and scillium

But still, the answer to the question of whether sharks are found in the Black Sea will be positive. In its depths, katrans are found - small sharks that are not a threat to humans, since they hunt fish. Katrans live in flocks. The average size of an individual of this species from the shark family is slightly more than a meter in length.

Are katrans dangerous? They cannot kill a person or bite off a limb from him, but they can hurt and injure them. The fact is that there are sharp poisonous thorns on the skin and fins of the katran. In some cases, katrans can bite. Their bites can be life-threatening if a pack attacks. Most often, fishermen suffer from a meeting with a katran; ordinary people bathing and swimming in the sea are not attacked by katrans, unless you step on one of those who calmly bask in the shallow water.

Outwardly, the Katran is similar to its distant relatives: white and blue sharks. This predator is a permanent inhabitant and indigenous inhabitant of the Black Sea.

There is also another shark in the Black Sea: feline or scillium... The length of a cat shark does not exceed one meter. Her diet includes Black Sea molluscs and other invertebrates living in the depths. She does not pose a threat to a person and to his life; on the contrary, she tries in every possible way to avoid a meeting.

As you can see, neither the katran nor the cat shark are enemies to man, and you still need to figure out who is the enemy to whom, because sharks do not hunt a man, but, on the contrary, a man hunts a shark. In Crimea, all vacationers are offered to taste delicious fish in the form of a smoked delicacy - balyk, which is similar in taste to expensive sturgeon.

Black Sea sharks are actually delicious. You can taste the meat of these predators both in the restaurant and on the beach, where it is offered by local vendors. But here you need to be vigilant. You need to buy fish products in stores where they are stored according to the rules.

For lovers of sea hunting, local fishermen are ready to show a master class on how to catch a katran with a fishing rod. This is an interesting and exciting activity for all those who love fishing.

Another interesting entertainment that you will certainly be offered in Crimea is diving. Diving into the depths where these and other "inhabitants" of the Black Sea live, you will receive aesthetic pleasure and feel yourself a part of the still unknown underwater world of the Black Sea.

Goblin Shark: An Unusual Guest from the Pacific Ocean

And now a little history. In 2010, in the Crimea, off the coast of Sevastopol, local fishermen caught the Goblin shark, which lives in the depths of the Pacific Ocean. Naturally, they were puzzled by such a catch, as a result of which the sensational catch became the reason for the proceedings as to how this creature could get into the waters of the Black Sea, which is located thousands of kilometers from her home. Here is what the expeditionary reports of the Kharkov researcher of anomalous phenomena Sergei Petrov say about this:

“Sevastopol fishermen were surprised a lot when they caught this monster. Many sea reptiles were seen here, but such a specimen was caught for the first time. The footage that came to the Mobile Reporter website shows how the sailors do not know what to do with the catch. A goblin shark, a goblin shark, a rhinoceros shark or scapanorinch (lat.Mitsukurina owstoni) got into the network of fishermen. The fish got its name for its bizarre appearance: the shark's muzzle ends with a long coxiform outgrowth. This species has been little studied, less than five dozen specimens are known to science.

The brownie lives off the coast of Japan in the waters of the Pacific Ocean, and how he ended up in Antlantka, where the salinity of the water is different, is not clear. “I know cases when a blue or tiger shark swam, but they swam to the shores of the Bosphorus and went back, for them this salinity barrier turned out to be insurmountable,” says Alla Korotkova, Keeper of the Sevastopol Aquarium Fund. The goblin shark lives at a depth of 200 meters. This species has been studied very little. It is not even known whether he is endangered and aggressive towards humans.

For Sevastopol oceanographers, it is now a mystery how long the goblin shark lived in the Black Sea. But whether this marine inhabitant was the only representative of its kind in the Sevastopol bay is unknown. These sharks feed on a variety of organisms that live in deep waters. They eat fish, including other sharks, and can reach 3-4 meters in length (there may be large sharks of this species, but the longest goblin shark found was 3. 8 meters in length). They also feed on crustaceans and squid, octopus and cuttlefish.

The goblin has several rows of teeth, some of which are for catching prey, while others are for gnawing at the shell of crustaceans. The front teeth are long and smoothly framed, while the back teeth are adapted for gnawing. Up to 25% of the body weight of a goblin shark is its liver. This contributes to the buoyancy of the shark, which, like all sharks, lacks a swim bladder.

These sharks hunt, sensing the presence of prey thanks to special sensitive organs; their vision is weak due to the lack of light at great depths. Once the shark finds its prey, it suddenly pops its jaws out, using a tongue-like muscle to grab the prey in its sharp front teeth. "

Shark Attack Statistics in the Black Sea

There are no confirmed facts about a shark attack on a person in the Black Sea, but as fishermen say, they met a spotted prickly individual.

Rarely were there any attacks by katran on divers who were themselves to blame. They decided to play with what they thought was a harmless shark and tug at its tail. For which they paid by getting bites.

Some fishermen who did not follow the rules of caution when fishing for a predator also left marks in the form of scars and scars on their skin.

There are cases when vacationers accidentally stepped into the sea on a shark lying on the bottom. In this case, the shark immediately reacted to the impact, regarding it as an attack.

You can see the Crimean katran (prickly shark) and a cat shark in any seaside town of Crimea, where there is an Aquarium.

Popular questions and answers

Are there sharks in the Black Sea?
Yes, in the Black Sea there is a katran and a cat shark (scillium).

What sharks swim in the Black Sea?
In addition to katran and cat shark, white shark, fox shark, hammerhead shark swim here.

Are there sharks that are dangerous to human life?
A vacationer can be attacked by a white shark and a hammerhead shark. In this case, the person is in mortal danger. In some cases, you can also suffer from the bite of a katran.

Do sharks attack in the Black Sea?
Yes, sometimes they do. As an everywhere.

Are there statistics and cases of shark attacks on people in the Black Sea?
There are no official statistics. To confirm the case of a shark attack, you need to draw up documents and convene a special commission, which will issue an opinion and confirm or, conversely, refute the case of an attack in the media.

Why are tourists in Crimea afraid of shark attacks?
Because there were cases when fishermen and vacationers suffered from the bites of these predators.

Can a white shark swim in the Black Sea?
Yes, sometimes white sharks, dangerous to humans, swim into the Black Sea. This does not happen often, so it is impossible to track and record such cases. When and how often the white shark swims into the Black Sea, it is impossible to say for sure.

Does the Goblin shark live in the Black Sea?

It is not found in the Black Sea. Or is it already found? In 2013, a case was recorded when this rare predator hit a fishing boat in the net. But this is most likely an isolated case.

And in this video clip you can see what size the Black Sea sharks reach:

Going to a resort, people want to be confident in the safety of themselves and their loved ones. Shark attacks have appeared to be a serious threat to many in recent years. The reason for this is the increased frequency of reports in the media about such cases. So, in which seas are sharks found?

Scientists claim that today sharks live not only in the seas, but also in the oceans, and are also found in some lakes and rivers. Sharks appeared on the planet a very long time ago, so it is not surprising that over several million years of evolution, they have adapted to life, anywhere.

Are there sharks in the seas?

As mentioned above, you can meet sharks in different parts of the world. However, sharks prefer to live where they are most comfortable, and, the conditions are better suited for breeding.

Most often, sharks live in open and coastal waters, less often they can be found in rivers. It is so reliably known that these fish can be found in the Ganges and the Amazon.

If we talk about the seas, then sharks can definitely be found in the Baltic, Barents, Azov, as well as the Far Eastern seas. You may have heard that sharks are found in the Black Sea and decided that these are rumors. Forced to upset you, but there they also meet. They also live in the Mediterranean Sea, although people are attacked very rarely.

In recent years, there have been increased reports of shark attacks in the Red Sea. Scientists argue that this behavior is not normal for sharks, but rather falls on the list of anomalies.

Of course, sharks prefer to live in the warm waters of the oceans and seas. It happens that they are found in northern waters and cold parts of the seas, but this is rather an exception. Sharks tend to live where it is easier to get their food, and most sea creatures live in warm waters. Since sharks are predators, it is such food that interests them in the first place.

There is evidence that sharks can be found in cold waters. Since today the inhabitants of cold waters are not fully understood, it is impossible to say unequivocally about the possibility of meeting sharks in cold seas.

Shark attacks on humans are usually observed far in the open sea (ocean). Therefore, until recently, it was believed that in most seas there is practically no chance of meeting a predator. And yet a shark can attack in the sea - although not in every one. Knowing the features of the fauna of the most popular lakes for recreation, you can determine the degree of risk to which you are exposed to swimming (and even diving or surfing) in this place.

Where can you most often see a shark?

The main seas, where meeting with sharks is most likely, are: Baltic, Mediterranean, Black and Red. In addition, the same list includes almost all seas belonging to the Indian Ocean basin.

You have a very small chance of becoming an object of shark attack if you are resting on Azov or on. Sharks are also found in the cold northern seas, but since there are few bathers in those places, there were no cases of attacks by these predators on humans.

Sharks in the Mediterranean basin

15 of which can be dangerous to people. The most dangerous are:

- Tiger shark;

- shark-mako;

- long-winged shark;

- hammerhead shark;

- bull shark.

There have been 21 reported attacks on bathers in recent years.

In the Ionian and Aegean Seas, belonging to the Mediterranean basin, sharks live up to 35 species. The most dangerous are considered sand, white and blue sharks, which most often attacked humans over the next few decades.

Red sea and sharks

In this reservoir you can find up to 30 species of sharks, the most dangerous of which are tiger and gray reef sharks. There are other types of predators, meeting with which is unlikely to bring you something good, but they most often live in the depths.

Azov and Black seas

Safe for humans, In these places, the maximum you can see is katran. A small shark does not attack a person, so you should not be afraid of it. also need not be afraid. Rather, she needs to be wary of people, since fishermen are very fond of hunting her.

Andaman sea

In a little, they are found in the region of Burma and in general this sea is not considered dangerous for people. At least no attacks were registered here.

A lot of sharks live here - both deep-sea, less dangerous for people, and coastal, which can just attack bathers. Still, the area can hardly be considered too dangerous - most often tourists are injured or killed here when they encounter completely different marine life, such as poisonous jellyfish or octopuses.

Caribbean sea

But in these waters attacks are very frequent. Tiger, bull and reef sharks attack the local population and tourists almost every year. Although the flow of tourists coming to Cuba is not affected too much.

North seas

In the waters of the Barents and White Seas, you can find a herring shark, as well as a katrana. A giant shark appears here, which is completely safe for humans. In other seas of the Arctic Ocean basin, you can also find a cat shark, whose attacks on people have not been recorded.

In the Russian Primorye, where in 2011 there were shark attacks on humans, the most dangerous species are the mako shark and the great white shark.

In the Sea of ​​Japan, beware of the hammerhead shark and the gray short-fin shark. The fox shark found here may also be dangerous, but it almost does not swim to the shore.

The safest sea

The sea, where there are no sharks, is considered the Caspian - they do not live. However, rumors about the penetration of these predators here from time to time arise, but they have no real ground under them.