A shark believed to measure between two and three metres was spotted circling inside Marina Botafoch in Ibiza earlier this month, prompting concern among onlookers and boat crews in the area.

The sighting was reported by a bosun working on one of the yachts docked at the marina. Boat worker Ediz Mehmet said he arrived at Marina Botafoch at around 8am on Monday, February 9, when he noticed the animal swimming inside the harbour.

According to Mehmet, the shark appeared to be a blue shark and was moving in circles between the pontoons. He estimated the animal to be between two and three metres long and said its behaviour seemed unusual.

He explained that he works on a boat moored in Marina Botafoch and noticed the shark shortly after arriving in the morning. Witnesses who saw the animal also suggested it may have been injured, with photos and videos showing what looked like a small wound near the upper part of the dorsal fin. Some observers speculated the mark could have been a bite.

Blue sharks are commonly found in deeper offshore waters around the Mediterranean. Most adult blue sharks measure between 1.7 and 2.2 metres in length, although some individuals can grow as long as four metres. The shark seen in Ibiza was described as appearing disoriented and swimming in circles, leading some to believe it may have been confused by recent weather conditions or injury.

One witness commented that the shark may have been disoriented by rough weather, while others noted its repeated circling behaviour within the marina.

Another recent shark sighting in Spain

The Ibiza sighting comes after a separate shark encounter on the Spanish mainland. A shark measuring around two metres was seen near the shoreline at La Reya Beach in Puerto de Mazarrón, near Murcia. Beachgoers were temporarily asked to leave the water after the animal’s fin was spotted close to swimmers.

Lifeguards advised people to keep a safe distance while emergency services responded. A boat crew eventually guided the shark away from shallow water where it risked becoming stranded. Videos of that incident circulated widely online, with one clip gaining close to one million views on TikTok.

Reactions online ranged from concern to reassurance, with some commenters noting that blue sharks rarely interact with humans and are not typically considered a threat to swimmers. Others suggested the shark seen near shore may also have been injured or disoriented.

Situation in Ibiza

At the time of writing, there have been no reports of injuries linked to the shark seen in Marina Botafoch. Sightings of sharks in harbours are uncommon but can occur occasionally in Mediterranean waters, particularly if an animal is injured, chasing fish, or disoriented.

Local authorities have not issued any major restrictions following the sighting, and the situation appears to have been isolated to the marina area.

As always, if marine wildlife is spotted close to shore or in harbours, the recommendation is to keep a safe distance and notify local authorities or lifeguards.

More updates will follow if further information becomes available.

News source: mirror.co.uk