ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 30 · 2020 · 1
9
received: 2020-01-27                 DOI 10.19233/ASHN.2020.02
CAPTURE OF A LARGE GREAT WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON 
CARCHARIAS (LAMNIDAE) FROM THE TUNISIAN COAST (CENTRAL 
MEDITERRANEAN SEA): A HISTORICAL AND ICHTHYOLOGICAL EVENT
Jeanne ZAOUALI & Sihem RAFRAFI-NOUIRA
Unité de Recherches Exploitation des Milieux aquatiques, Institut Supérieur de Pêche et d’Aquaculture de Bizerte, Université de 
Carthage, BP 15, 7080 Menzel Jemil, Tunisia
Khadija OUNIFI-BEN AMOR & Mohamed MOURAD BEN AMOR 
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, port de pêche, 2025 La Goulette, Tunisia
Christian CAPAPÉ
Laboratoire d’Ichtyologie, Université de Montpellier, case 104, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
e-mail: capape@univ-montp2.fr
ABSTRACT
In this paper, the authors report an old capture of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, the first in 
the Gulf of Hammamet, central Tunisia. The specimen probably reached 6 metres in total length and weighed ap-
proximately two tons. Additionally, some comments about the distribution of the species in the area and throughout 
the Mediterranean are provided, emphasizing the presence of nursery grounds in this sea.
Key words: Great white shark, size and total body weight, Gulf of Hammamet, mattanza, Thunnus thynus, 
nursery grounds
CATTURA DEL GRANDE SQUALO BIANCO, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS 
(LAMNIDAE), LUNGO LA COSTA DELLA TUNISIA (MEDITERRANEO CENTRALE): 
EVENTO STORICO E ITTIOLOGICO
SINTESI
Gli autori riportano una vecchia cattura del grande squalo bianco, Carcharodon carcharias, la prima nel Golfo di 
Hammamet, nella Tunisia centrale. L’esemplare probabilmente aveva raggiunto i 6 metri di lunghezza totale e circa 
due tonnellate di peso. Nell’articolo vengono inoltre forniti alcuni commenti sulla distribuzione delle specie nell’area 
in questione ed in tutto il Mediterraneo, sottolineando la presenza di zone di nursery nel bacino.
Parole chiave: grande squalo bianco, dimensioni e peso corporeo totale, Golfo di Hammamet, mattanza, Thunnus 
thynus, zone di nursery
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 30 · 2020 · 1
10
Jeanne ZAOUALI et al.: CAPTURE OF A LARGE GREAT WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LAMNIDAE) FROM THE TUNISIAN COAST ..., 9–14
INTRODUCTION
Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758) is a 
large shark with worldwide distribution, especially 
in temperate waters, and its occurrence is well docu-
mented throughout the Mediterranean Sea following 
De Maddalena & Heim (2012). Most of these records 
occurred in the central Mediterranean, especially in 
the Strait of Sicily, where several juvenile and adult 
specimens were recorded (Quéro, 1984; Fergusson 
1996, 2002; Saïdi et al., 2005; Maliet et al., 2013; 
Kabasakal, 2014). Off the Tunisian coast, C. carcha-
rias is as well-known as other large and dangerous 
elasmobranch species (Capapé et al., 1975). Bradaï 
& Saïdi (2013) noted that 59 reliable captures of C. 
carcharias were reported in the region between 1953 
and 2012, the majority (56%) occurring in the Gulf 
of Gabès. Additionally, basic data collected through 
historical literature, previous published documents, 
interviews with fishermen, and personal observa-
tions suggested other occurrences of C. carcharias in 
Tunisian marine waters. Among them, a large speci-
men captured several decades ago and landed at the 
fishing site of Monastir (Fig. 1), which we are going 
to present.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
The capture reported is that of a large female 
specimen of C. carcharias that occurred at the end 
of June 1975 in a mattanza set up in the waters sur-
rounding the Kuriates Islands, located in the Gulf of 
Hammamet, central Tunisia (Fig. 1). A mattanza is an 
ancient traditional fishing technique used to catch 
thunnid species by trapping, mainly Atlantic bluefin 
tuna Thunnus thynnus (Linnaeus, 1758), when they 
are crossing the Mediterranean between February 
and July (Farrugio & Barbaroux, 2005). This kind of 
tuna fishing site is called a tonnara and is mainly 
targeted by large sharks, which can easily find avail-
able preys (Storai et al., 2011).
Furtherly, the specimen of C. carcharias was cut 
into slices and rapidly sold by fishermen, its flesh 
being greatly appreciated in the local traditional 
cuisine. According to fishermen, the estimated total 
weight of these slices reached 2 tons. Only the jaws 
were removed and preserved (Fig. 2), and finally pur-
chased for the personal collection of Mr Mohamed 
Zaouali, formerly Head of the Office National des 
Pêches of Tunisia, and late husband of JZ, one of the 
present co-authors.
Fig. 1: Map of the central Mediterranean Sea, showing 
the capture site of the specimen of Carcharodon carcha-
rias off the central Tunisian coast (black star). GT: Gulf 
of Tunis. GH: Gulf of Hammamet. GG: Gulf of Gabès.
Sl. 1: Zemljevid osrednjega Sredozemskega morja z 
označeno lokaliteto, kjer je bil ujet primerek vrste 
Carcharodon carcharias ob osrednji tunizijski obali (črna 
zvezdica). GT: Tuniški zaliv. GH: Hammameški zaliv. 
GG: Gabeški zaliv.
Fig. 2: Jaws of the specimen of Carcharodon carcharias 
captured in the waters surrounding Kuriates Islands, 
central Tunisia, scale bar = 1000 mm (Photo: Hédi 
Zaouali).
Sl. 2: Žrelo belega morskega volka, ujetega v vodah 
okoli Kuriatskih otokov (osrednja Tunizija), merilo = 
1000 mm (Foto: Hédi Zaouali).
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 30 · 2020 · 1
11
Jeanne ZAOUALI et al.: CAPTURE OF A LARGE GREAT WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LAMNIDAE) FROM THE TUNISIAN COAST ..., 9–14
Fig. 3: Specimen of Carcharodon carcharias landed at the fishing site of Monastir, observed by His Excellency, 
Habib Bourguiba, President of the Tunisian Republic, surrounded by members of his Government and other pe-
ople. Habib Bourguiba was a lawyer and a nationalist leader who played a major role in leading his country to 
independence, earning the title of Supreme Combatant (Chadli, 2013). He governed Tunisia for three decades 
and, considering education as the highest priority, promoted the foundation and development of universities and 
specialized institutes (Belkhodja, 1999). The presence of President Habib Bourguiba at the landing site of Monastir 
is evidence of his genuine interest for all that concerned fisheries and science, which is clearly visible from the 
photo. The white arrow indicates an Atlantic bluefin tuna Thunnus thynnus, which was captured together with the 
great white shark (Photo: Mohamed Zaouali).
Sl. 3: Primerek vrste Carcharodon carcharias si na ribji tržnici v Monastirju ogleduje Njegova Ekscelenca, Habib 
Bourguiba, predsednik Tunizijske Republike, obkrožen s člani njegove vlade in drugimi ljudmi. Habib Bourguiba je 
bil pravnik in vodja nacionalistov, ki je odigral ključno vlogo pri neodvisnosti Tunizije, zaradi česar so mu podelili 
naslov vrhovnega poveljnika (Chadli, 2013). Tunizijo je vodil tri desetletja, pri čemer je zagovarjal edukacijo kot 
glavno prioriteto ter promoviral ustanovitev in razvoj univerz in specializiranih inštitutov (Belkhodja, 1999). Njegova 
prisotnost v Monastirju kaže na njegovo zanimanje za ribištvo in znanost, kar potrjuje tudi fotografija. Z belo puščico 
je označen tun Thunnus thynnus, ki je bil ujet hkrati z morskim volkom (Foto: Mohamed Zaouali).
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 30 · 2020 · 1
12
Jeanne ZAOUALI et al.: CAPTURE OF A LARGE GREAT WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LAMNIDAE) FROM THE TUNISIAN COAST ..., 9–14
The total length (TL) of the specimen was provided 
by the fishermen, however, to confirm this size, we 
have taken into consideration some methods recom-
mended by Randall (1973) and Mollet et al. (1996). 
To estimate the size of a white shark, the latter 
authors used the relationships between the enamel 
height of the largest tooth in the upper jaw (UAE1) 
and the dried upper jaw perimeter (DUJP) versus total 
length; such relationships are detailed in Mollet et al. 
(1996, Tab. 1). 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The great white shark specimen was landed at 
the fishing port of Monastir together with T. thyn-
nus in July 1975 (Fig. 3). It was a huge female 
measuring slightly under 6 m in total length, with 
the estimated total weight of the slices reaching 2 
tons approximately following the accounts of fisher-
men who discovered some T. thynnus in its stomach 
contents. This was the first capture of C. carcharias 
in the Gulf of Hammamet and is probably the only 
capture known to date in this area. The height of the 
largest tooth of the upper jaw (UA1E2) was 60 mm, 
the DUJP 1200 mm. These measurements allow us 
to estimate the size of the Tunisian great white shark 
between 4.5 and 6 m total length following Mollet 
et al. (1996). 
The records of largest C. carcharias captured to 
date concern two specimens, both reaching 7 m in 
total length. One specimen was caught by gill-net 
near Kangaroo Island, South Australia (Jury, 1987; 
Cappo, 1988) and designated as KANGA by Mol-
let et al. (1996), the other was caught by steel line 
baited by tuna and swordfish (Abela, 1989) in waters 
surrounding Malta Islands and designated as MALTA 
by Mollet et al. (1996). The DUJP in KANGA and 
MALTA were 1.250 m and 1.120 m, respectively, the 
UA1E2 51.6 mm and 46.9 mm, respectively (Mollet 
et al., 1996). The total length was assessed between 
5.1 and 7.3 m for MANGA, and between 4.5 and 6.4 
m for MALTA (Mollet et al., 1996). Following these 
results a total length of 6 m reported for the present 
Tunisian specimen remains a plausible hypothesis. 
The TL reported for MALTA suggested that its total 
body weight could be estimated between 2.4 and 
3.6 tons. A great white shark captured in the Gulf 
of Gabès measured 5.87 TL and probably weighed 
more than 2 tons (Saïdi et al., 2005). The estimated 
weight of the present C. carcharias – 2 tons – seems 
valid. Therefore, this specimen probably constitutes 
the largest great white shark known to date in Tu-
nisian waters and one of the largest caught in the 
Mediterranean Sea. Comparatively, the largest Italian 
specimen of C. carcharias known to date, was esti-
mated to reach a total length of 6.02 m, according to 
De Maddalena (1999).
Following Boldrocchi et al. (2017), C. carcharias ex-
hibits a large range of prey species in stomach contents, 
indicating that it is a rather opportunistic feeder with a 
preference for scombrid and among them Thunna spp. 
This pattern explains why captures of great white shark 
generally occur close to both traditional and modern 
tuna fisheries (Boldrocchi et al., 2017). However, it ap-
pears that the collapse of tuna fisheries enhanced the 
decline of these captures in some Mediterranean areas, 
such as Catalonian waters (Barrull & Mate, 2001), 
eastern Adriatic Sea (Soldo & Jardas, 2002) and both 
Sea of Marmara and the Bosphorus Strait (Kabasakal, 
2016). Conversely, some authors have noted a possible 
relationship between C. carcharias and tuna farming 
(Boldrocchi et al., 2017). The last mattanza site located 
off Sidi Daoud, north-eastern Tunisia, was closed in 
2005 (Rhomdane et al., 2014), and since then captures 
of white sharks were only reported locally (Bradaï 
& Saïdi, 2015). Some authors have noted a possible 
interrelationship between tuna and C. carcharias, due 
to the importance of thunnid species in the shark’s diet 
(Boldrocchi, 2017).
A drastic decline of captures of C. carcharias in 
Tunisian waters remains uncertain and cannot be 
totally ruled out. However, based on the captures of 
pregnant females carrying developing embryos, young-
of-the-year born in the wild and adults of both sexes, 
Fergusson (1996), Saïdi et al. (2005) and Bradaï & Saïdi 
(2013) suggested the presence of a nursery grounds for 
C. carcharias in the central Mediterranean Sea, even 
though further records are needed to confirm this 
opinion. Recent studies, such as Kabasakal (2014), 
Kabasakal & Gedikoğlu (2008), Kabasakal et al. (2018) 
indicated that C. carcharias currently occurs in the 
eastern Mediterranean Sea and in the Aegean Sea, as 
well as records of new-born and juvenile specimens. 
Similarly, a nursery ground for C. carcharias in north-
eastern Aegean Sea remains a valid hypothesis. 
Recruitment of C. carcharias in the Mediterranean 
Sea cannot be totally ruled out even if significant re-
cords are needed to confirm it. Intrusion of C. car-
charias and other large elasmobranch species through 
the Suez Canal and the Strait of Gibraltar remains 
questionable (Capapé, 1989). Boldrocchi et al. (2017) 
noted that between 476 and 2015, 628 reliable records 
of C. carcharias were reported in the Mediterranean 
Sea, and informed us (Boldrocchi, 2020, in letteris) that 
no further record occurred in this region since 2015. 
Two records of C. carcharias reported by Rafrafi et al. 
(2015, 2019) from the north-eastern Tunisian coast are 
probably the last known to date in this sea.
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 30 · 2020 · 1
13
Jeanne ZAOUALI et al.: CAPTURE OF A LARGE GREAT WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LAMNIDAE) FROM THE TUNISIAN COAST ..., 9–14
ULOV VELIKEGA PRIMERKA BELEGA MORSKEGA VOLKA, CARCHARODON 
CARCHARIAS (LAMNIDAE) OB TUNIZIJSKI OBALI (OSREDNJE SREDOZEMSKO MORJE): 
ZGODOVINSKI IN IHTIOLOŠKI DOGODEK
Jeanne ZAOUALI & Sihem RAFRAFI-NOUIRA
Unité de Recherches Exploitation des Milieux aquatiques, Institut Supérieur de Pêche et d’Aquaculture de Bizerte, 
Université de Carthage, BP 15, 7080 Menzel Jemil, Tunisia
Khadija OUNIFI-BEN AMOR & Mohamed MOURAD BEN AMOR 
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer, port de pêche, 2025 La Goulette, Tunisia
Christian CAPAPÉ
Laboratoire d’Ichtyologie, Université de Montpellier, case 104, 34095 Montpellier cedex 5, France
e-mail: capape@univ-montp2.fr
POVZETEK
Avtorji poročajo o starejšemu zapisu o pojavljanju belega morskega volka, Carcharodon carcharias, ki je prvi 
podatek te vrste za Hammameški zaliv v osrednji Tuniziji. Primerek je verjetno v dolžino meril 6 m in tehtal pribli-
žno dve toni. Nadalje avtorji razpravljajo o razširjenosti vrste na obravnavanem območju in širšem Sredozemskem 
morju ter o možnih razmnoževalnih okoljih te vrste (jaslicah).
Ključne besede: beli morski volk, velikost in telesna teža, Hammameški zaliv, mattanza, Thunnus thynus, jaslice
ANNALES · Ser. hist. nat. · 30 · 2020 · 1
14
Jeanne ZAOUALI et al.: CAPTURE OF A LARGE GREAT WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LAMNIDAE) FROM THE TUNISIAN COAST ..., 9–14
REFERENCES
Abela, J. (1989): Lo squalo bianco più grande del 
mondo. Aqua, January, 20-21.
Barrull, J. & I. Mate (2001): Presence of the great 
white shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 1758) 
in the Catalonian Sea (NW Mediterranean), review and 
discussion of records and notes about its ecology. An-
nales, Series Historia Naturalis, 11(1), 3-12.
Belkhodja, T. (1999): Les trois décennies Bourguiba. 
Témoignage. Arcantères/Publisud, éditeurs, Paris, 286 pp.
Boldrocchi, G., J. Kiszka, S. Purkis, T. Storai, L. Zin-
gula & D.Burkholer (2017): Distribution, ecology and 
status of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in 
the Mediterranean Sea. Rev. Fish. Biol. Fisheries, 27(2), 
515–534.
Bradaï, M.N. & B. Saïdi (2013): On the occurrence 
of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in 
Tunisian coasts. Rapp. Comm. Int. Mer Médit., 40, 489.
Capapé, C. (1989): Les Sélaciens des côtes méditer-
ranéennes: aspects généraux de leur écologie et exem-
ples de peuplements. Océanis, 15(3), 309-331.
Capapé, C., A. Chadli & R. Prieto (1975): Les 
sélaciens dangereux des côtes tunisiennes. Arch. Inst. 
Pasteur, Tunis, 52(1-2), 61-108.
Cappo, M. (1987): Size and age of the white pointer 
shark Carcharodon carcharias Linnaeus. Was Peter 
Risely’s white pointer a world record. Safish (Adelaide, 
South Australia), 13, 11-13.
Chadli, A. (2013): Bourguiba tel que je l’ai connu. 
Berg international, éditeurs, Paris, 448 pp.
De Maddalena, A. (1999): Il più grande esemplare 
italiano di squalo bianco, Carcharodon carcharias (Lin-
naeus, 1758) individuato nei reperti conservati presso il 
Museo di Anatomia comparata dell’Università «La Sapi-
enza» di Roma. Museologia scientifica, 15(2), 195-198.
De Maddalena, A. & W. Heim (2012): Mediterranean 
Great white shark. A comprehensive study including all 
recorded sightings. McFarland & Company, London, 
254 pp.
Farrugio, H & O. Barbaroux (2005): Les thons - Tra-
didions et productions. Collection Artisans de la mer, 
Neva éditions, Magland, France, 104 pp.
Fergusson, I.K. (1996): Distribution and autoecology 
of the white shark in the Eastern North Atlantic and the 
Mediterranean Sea. In: Klimley A.P. & V. Ainley (eds), 
Great White Sharks: The Biology of Carcharodon car-
charias. Academic Press, San Diego, pp. 321-345.
Fergusson, I.K. (2002): Occurrence and biology of 
the Great White Shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in the 
Central Mediterranean.. In: Vacchi M., G. La Mesa, F. 
Serena & B. Séret. (eds), Proceedings of the 4th Euro-
pean Elasmobranch Association Meeting Livorno, Italy. 
ICRAM, ARPAT and SFI, pp. 7-23.
Jury, K. (1987): Huge ‘white pointer’ encounter. As 
told to editor K. Jury. Safish (Adelaide, South Australia), 
12(3), 12-13.
Kabasakal, H. (2014): The status of the great white shark 
(Carcharodon carcharias) in Turkey’s waters. Marine Biodi-
versity Records, 7, E109. doi:10.1017/S1755267214000980.
Kabasakal, H. (2016): Historical dispersal of the great 
white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, and bluefin tuna, 
Thunnus thynnus, in Turkish waters: Decline of a predator 
in response to the loss of its prey. Annales, Series Historia 
Naturalis., 26, 213-220.
Kabasakal, H. & S.Ö. Gedikoğlu (2008): Two new-born 
great white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 
1758) (Lamniformes; Lamnidae) from Turkish waters of the 
northern Aegean Sea. Acta Adriatica, 49(2), 125-135.
Kabasakal, H., E. Bayrı & E. Ataç (2018): Recent records 
of the great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Linnaeus, 
1758) (Chondrichthyes: Lamnidae), in Turkish waters (east-
ern Mediterranean). Annales, Series Historia Naturalis, 28, 
93-98.
Maliet, V., C. Reynaud & C. Capapé (2013): Occurrence 
of white shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Elasmobranchii: 
Lamniformes: Carchariidae) off Corsica (northern Mediter-
ranean): historical and contemporary records. Acta Ichthyol. 
Piscat., 43(4), 323-326.
Mollet, H-F., G.M. Cailliet, A.P. Klimley, D.A. Ebert, A.D. 
Tesi & L.V.J. Compagno (1996): A review of length validation 
methods and protocols to measure large white sharks. In: A. 
P. Klimley & D. G. Ainley (Editors), pp. 91-108. Great white 
sharks. The biology of Carcharodon carcharias, Academic 
Press, San Diego.
Quéro, J. C. (1984): Lamnidae. In: P.J.P. Whitehead, 
M.L. Bauchot, J.C. Hureau., J. Nielsen J.& Tortonese. E. 
(Eds), pp. 83-88. Fishes of the North-western Atlantic and 
the Mediterranean, Vol I, UNESCO, Paris.
Rafrafi-Nouira, S., O. El Kamel-Moutalibi, C. Reynaud, 
M. Boumaïza & C. Capapé (2015): Additional and unusual 
captures of elasmobranch species from the northern coast of 
Tunisia (central Mediterranean). J Ichthyol., 55(6), 337-345.
Rafrafi-Nouira, S., Y. Diatta, A. Diaby A. & C. Capapé 
(2019): Additional records of rare sharks from northern 
Tunisia (central Mediterranean Sea). Annales, Series Historia 
Naturalis, 29(1), 25-34.
Randall, J.E. (1973): Size of the Great White Shark (Car-
charodon). Science, Washington, 169-170.
Romdhane, M.S., S. Mrabet, C. Raïs, S. Dhouib, A.Kheirji 
(2014): Engins de pêche de Tunisie. Doc. INSTM, 64 pp.
Saïdi, B., M.N. Bradaï, A. Bouaïn A., O. Guélorget & C. 
Capapé (2005): Capture of a pregnant female white shark, 
Carcharodon carcharias (Lamnidae) in the Gulf of Gabès 
(southern Tunisia, central Mediterranean) with comments 
on oophagy in sharks. Cybium, 29(1), 88-90.
Soldo, A.& I. Jardas (2002): Occurrence of great white 
shark, Carcharodon carcharias (Linaeus, 1758) and basking 
shark Cetorhinus maximus (Gunnerus, 1765) in the eastern 
Adriatic and their protection. Period. Biol., 104 (2), 195-201. 
Storai, T., L. Zinzula, S. Repetto, M. Zuffa, A. Morgan 
& J Mandelman (2011): Bycatch of large elasmobranchs in 
the traditional tuna traps (tonnare) of Sardinia from 1990 to 
2009. Fish. Res., 109, 74-79.