Sharks

Global shark bite incidents returned to typical levels in 2025, according to new figures from the Florida Museum of Natural History’s International Shark Attack File (ISAF). The data suggests that, following fluctuations in recent years, the number of recorded incidents aligns with long-term averages.

Researchers report that while shark bites continue to occur worldwide, the proportion of incidents in the United States has declined compared to previous years. This shift highlights the variability in where incidents occur rather than any overall increase in risk.

The Shark Trust has launched a collaboration with the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC), encouraging divers and snorkellers to contribute to ongoing citizen science initiatives aimed at improving knowledge of egg-laying shark and skate species.

In January 2025, researchers from the Minderoo-UWA Deep-Sea Research Centre captured extraordinary footage: a large sleeper shark gliding silently past a deep-sea camera in Antarctic waters. The sighting took place near the South Shetland Islands, at a depth of around 500 meters, in water hovering near freezing.

Even for seasoned scientists, the moment was startling. As marine researcher Alan Jamieson later admitted, seeing a shark there felt almost impossible. Until now, no sleeper shark had ever been recorded in these southernmost seas.

The study describes how researchers observed mature male and female tiger sharks showing physical signs consistent with mating at Olowalu, Maui. Even more compelling, long-term tracking revealed a strong and predictable seasonal pattern: adult sharks repeatedly gathered in the same place at the same time of year.

That kind of consistency strongly suggests this is not random. A co-author of the study, Carl Meyer, believes that it is the first group mating site for tiger sharks ever identified. 

Great white sharks, among the ocean’s most iconic predators, are now facing a real risk of extinction in the Mediterranean Sea. New scientific research indicates that the regional population is critically depleted, with sightings becoming increasingly rare and evidence pointing to a long-term and continuing decline.

A new study led by scientists from the University of Hawaiʻi reveals how this seasonal pulse of seabirds triggers what can only be described as “shark turf wars”. The fledgling seabirds at French Frigate Shoals concentrate tiger sharks in specific areas, forcing other shark species to change where and when they roam.

Sharks and rays are among the ocean’s most threatened vertebrates, but new research shows that younger evolutionary lineages are at especially high risk of extinction. The findings challenge assumptions that all sharks are equally resilient and point to deep biological differences shaping their survival prospects.

Whale shark tourism is widely promoted as a low-impact way to experience one of the ocean’s most charismatic species. However, new scientific research suggests that rule-breaking is pervasive at some of the world’s most popular whale shark tourism sites, raising serious concerns about animal welfare and the sustainability of the industry.

Sharks are often portrayed as ancient survivors, but new research suggests their longevity extends to another remarkable trait: the ability to maintain good vision well into old age. A recent scientific study has found that some long-lived shark species show little to no decline in retinal structure or function as they age, offering rare insight into how vision can be preserved over decades—or even centuries.