A popular tourist destination in the Canary Islands, Spain, has been put on high alert following recent shark sightings near its coastline.
The sighting prompted authorities to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of beachgoers. Sharks were spotted just 200 metres from the shore off the coast of Fuerteventura, a beloved sandy haven frequented by British holidaymakers. In response, warning flags were raised, signalling the potential danger lurking in the waters.
Initially, a red flag was hoisted, urging people to steer clear of the water at Playa Blanca beach in Las Palmas. Subsequently, the alert level was downgraded to a yellow flag, allowing cautious paddling close to the shore.
This incident echoes a similar occurrence last September near Gran Canaria, where hammerhead sharks were seen mere feet away from the coastline.
Such sightings prompted lifeguards to raise a rare purple flag, signifying potential threats from marine animals like jellyfish or sharks.
While it’s uncommon for hammerhead sharks to venture so close to shore, they typically feed on stingrays, fish, and other marine creatures. Attacks from sharks in the Canary Islands are exceedingly rare, averaging less than one per year.
Popular tourist spots like Tenerife, Lanzarote, and La Palma, alongside Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, are under the watchful eye of patrols scanning the ocean for any further shark activity. Reports indicate that the sharks may have moved to other areas near these island hotspots.
Efforts to ensure safety have included trained divers and swimmers scaring off sharks dangerously close to bathers, as witnessed in Gran Canaria.
During the summer, entire beaches have been temporarily closed due to shark sightings, emphasising the need for vigilance and caution along the picturesque shores of the Canary Islands.
