A basking shark, the second-largest fish in the world, was recently spotted near the Croatian coast in the Adriatic Sea. The sighting, captured on video by a local Facebook user, showed the shark swimming peacefully near a fishing boat just a few hundred meters from the shore near Kvarner Bay in the northern Adriatic.
Basking sharks can grow up to ten meters long and weigh up to 4.5 tons. Despite their size, they pose no threat to humans as they are filter feeders, consuming only plankton. The species is classified as 'vulnerable' and inhabits oceans worldwide, often migrating to nutrient-rich coastal regions during spring and summer.
Sightings of basking sharks are not uncommon in the Mediterranean, particularly in the northwestern areas during spring. Several factors, including warmer sea temperatures pushing plankton closer to shore and reduced fishing activity, may explain the coastal appearance. This recent encounter highlights the presence of these magnificent creatures in the Adriatic, adding to previous sightings in Croatia, Slovenia, and Italy, enriching our understanding of marine biodiversity in the region.