Are there sharks in Fuerteventura waters?

Fuerteventura is an excellent place for Snorkeling and Scuba Diving. The main fishing industry was supported by shellfish and crustations and other species like Tuna Dorada, Mullet, Barracuda, Parrot fish and various other edible varieties. Sardines also meant that other bigger predatory fish would follow the shoals, fish like Tuna, Skip Jacks, Yellow fin and the biggest prize the Blue Fin Tuna, some of which grow to enormous sizes often several hundred Kilos and command thousands of Euros at market. The other highly prized big game fish to follow the Sardines are the Marlin, White Marlin, Black Marlin and another monsters of the species, the Blue Marlin. These are one of the fastest fish in the sea and have been known to swim at up to 70MPH (110KPH) and can weigh up to 1,000 kilos. Fuerteventura has sea life that can be classified into around 390 species of fish which are grouped into 117 families. Because of the ever changing sea currents in the Canary Islands, the water has a strange combination of salt concentration and shifting temperatures which affect the marine life greatly, producing many different regions of fauna. The crustaceans are represented by a whole multitude of species. Among these are spider crabs, red crabs, sea snails, shrimps, lobsters, mussels, & limpets. Beneath the volcanic rocks lie octopus, squid and cuttlefish. The north of the Island has a greater abundance of marine life due to the water being slightly cooler and richer in plankton, but this area of water is also much less fished than the south of the Island. The majority of species are ‘Creole’ bound to the island for their whole life. Most of the fish here live on the sea bed, such as the gulper shark, moray eel, vieja, groupers, parrot fish, stingrays, and emperor fish to name but a few. Stingrays are very common as the waters around Lobos are a major breeding ground for these fish, in fact you can often see them in Corralejo harbour in the shallows by the harbour walls. Every year in Corralejo the beach at Waikiki gets invaded by sharks, but no need to worry, these are Nurse Sharks, and for a few days they come into the bay to give birth. They are totally harmless, and the police usually tape off an area to protect them from curious tourists. Even though these are totally harmless, there are some bigger sharks around, one of the common ones is the Hammerhead which can grow to 6 metres, but don’t worry, there has never been a recorded incidence of a shark attack in the Canaries. Whales & Dolphins Peoples favourite sea life have to be the Whales & Dolphins, there are several species that live permanently in the Canaries and others that migrate through on their way to their feeding grounds. At different times of the year there can be Blue Whales, Humpbacks, Pilot, Sperm, Brights whales and many others, even pods of Orca (Killer Whales) have been seen of the coast of Fuerteventura, and up to 20 different species of Dolphins following the shoals of Sardines as they move along the coastal waters of the Canaries. No article on sea life would be complete without mentioning turtles. Several species of sea turtle come to Fuerteventura to lay their eggs on the remote beaches at the south of the Island near Cofete and there is a Turtle Rescue Centre in Morro Jable. Fuerteventura and its Sea Life are a Mecca for Scuba divers, Snorkellers, Whale & Dolphin watchers, and Big Game fishing.

A rare shark attack has occurred two miles out to sea off the coast of Fuerteventura. The victim was practicing Downwind foil windsurfing off the coast of Los Molinos on the west coast of the island when the attack happened. The shark first attacked his board before biting his leg. Shark attacks are extremely rare on the Canaries and those that do occur tend to happen to surfers in areas of breaking waves or divers approaching angel sharks. No fatalities have ever been reported.

Un surfista resultó gravemente herido después de ser atacado por un tiburón frente a las Islas Canarias. El hombre estaba usando una tabla de hydrofoil a unos dos millas al oeste de Fuerteventura el domingo cuando ocurrió el incidente en aguas abiertas. Después de atacar su tabla, el tiburón hundió sus dientes en la pierna del surfista, dejando atrás dos heridas sangrientas por encima de la rodilla, según informes de los medios locales. Logró escalar de regreso a la orilla para buscar seguridad y luego fue atendido por los servicios de emergencia. La cadena de televisión española Antena 3 describió las heridas como "profundas". Mientras que varias especies de tiburones, incluidos los tiburones martillo y los tiburones ángel, son conocidos por nadar en el área, normalmente no atacan a los humanos. Las autoridades han advertido a los bañistas que procedan con precaución cuando se aventuren lejos de la orilla, según los medios locales. El ataque del tiburón es el último de una serie de incidentes similares mientras los turistas se dirigen a la playa. En un encuentro cercano con un tiburón, a los bañistas se les aconseja mantener contacto visual y moverse lentamente, según el Archivo Internacional de Ataques de Tiburones del Museo de Florida. Si el tiburón intenta morderte: Golpea al tiburón en los ojos y las agallas, áreas sensibles que pueden lastimarse independientemente de la fuerza personal; golpea al tiburón en la snout y empuja hacia atrás, la resistencia del agua debilita tu puñetazo, agregó el archivo.

Tourists and locals in Fuerteventura, a popular tourist destination in the Canary Islands, have been placed on high alert following recent shark sightings near its coastline. 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.

Sharks do exist in the waters around Fuerteventura. However, it's important to note that there has been only one reported incident, which occurred far outside the coast. So you can safely swim in the ocean, and on busy beaches, lifeguards are present to ensure your safety. It's important to understand that shark incidents are extremely rare. In the Canary Islands: Total incidents in Fuerteventura (all time) 0 Fatal incidents in Canary Islands. For perspective, you're statistically more likely to be injured by a coconut falling from a tree than by a shark. The waters around Fuerteventura are home to several shark species, most of which pose no threat to humans. The GSAF database contains over 7,000 documented incidents worldwide, of which we've identified 13 incidents in the Canary Islands region. Many shark species in the Canary Islands are endangered or vulnerable. If you see a shark, consider yourself lucky to witness these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat. Report sightings to help with conservation efforts. Always follow local beach safety guidelines and lifeguard instructions.