A study has found that great white sharks have been found to be reproducing in Spanish waters, following an accidental capture of a juvenile juvenile in April 2023 off the eastern coast of Spain. This discovery reignited speculation about the Mediterranean range of great whites. The global population is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN and the Mediterranean subpopulation is Critically Endangered due to its slow reproduction and slow life history. The Mediterranean population has declined by at least 80 percent over a three-generation period, which equates to 69 years. The study also found that if the populations of Atlantic bluefin tuna in Spain could be protected, the sharks may survive. The most common locations for sightings are in the Strait of Sicily and the Adriatic Sea.