On the occasion of the appearance of a shark in the second marina of Glyfada, yesterday, and the concern that was caused, the research director of the “Archipelagos” Marine Protection Institute, Anastasia Miliou, recommends calmness as it is neither a dangerous phenomenon nor a rare one.
“We live in a country with an excellent sea and a rare biodiversity – 34 species of sharks exist in the Greek seas” notes Ms. Miliou.
This particular species, as he says speaking to MEGA, can be found in shallow waters up to a thousand meters deep. “This thing was chasing something and got into the shallows, definitely in the wrong spot. It’s not unusual or rare, and it’s certainly not dangerous. There is no reason to panic,” he emphasizes.
The incident in Glyfada is a reminder that the seas are not only for us but also for the rest of the species we live with, says Ms. Miliou
“Movies have created a myth”
“It is a blue shark, a species that reaches four meters in length, this particular one appears to be young. It is very common for a fish to hunt its food and find itself in shallower waters,” continues Mrs. Miliou.
As for the panic that is usually created just at the mention of the word shark, Ms. Miliou emphasizes that “we see many films, which have created a myth but, for so many years that we have been recording shark populations in the Greek seas, there has never been an accident . It is more likely that the accident was caused by a human factor and not by rare species.”
And if we see it, what do we do? As she recommends, “in general, when we see a rare, unusual species we should let it find its way. We stay still, we don’t shout, we don’t scream, there is no reason to panic.”
The incident in Glyfada is a reminder that “the seas are not only for us but also for the rest of the species we live with,” she says. “We have incidents with seals, with turtles, with various species and it is good to remember that animals are not souvenirs or dangerous selfies, we stay away, enjoy and respect our fellow residents in the Greek seas.”
It is not rare
It is noted that shark-like fish are increasingly found in Greek seas.
Characteristic examples are both the 3.5 meter long shark that was spotted on Easter day in the port of Volos, and the new incident that occurred the next day in the Glyfada marina.
The video showing the blue shark swimming in the marina next to the moored yachts was uploaded by a Glyfada resident on social media.