This week a hammerhead shark was spotted swimming near the Santa Catalina Pier at the Las Palmas port in Gran Canaria. The shark was recorded on video as it swam through the area, and the footage has since gone viral on social media, with many expressing their awe at the sighting.
The Port Police commented on the incident calling it "spectacular" and reassuring the public that these sharks don’t pose a threat to people if left alone. While the presence of sharks near the coast can be concerning, they are not dangerous if proper precautions are taken.
Hammerhead sharks are commonly found in warm and temperate waters, which is a testament to the rich marine biodiversity of the Canary Islands. While sightings of these sharks in port areas are rare, they are not unusual in the waters surrounding the archipelago, which hosts a diverse range of shark species, indicative of a healthy marine ecosystem.
This sighting follows another in June when a three-metre-long shark was spotted near the coast of Telde in Gran Canaria. That sighting prompted the temporary closure of Melenara and Salinetas beaches as a precautionary measure. The local authorities activated a prevention protocol, deploying drones and jet skis to monitor the situation and ensure the shark did not approach the shore again.
