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Stunned fisherman pulls massive 22ft shark from sea in Catalonia
The protected basking shark was already dead when it reached shore, having become tangled in fishing gear
There was a dramatic moment at a small port in north eastern Spain this week when a fisherman accidentally hauled a huge 22ft basking shark out of the water.The enormous creature, which had become caught in the fisherman’s net off the coast of Catalonia, was pulled ashore at Port de la Selva, around two hours northeast of Barcelona.
Experts later confirmed it was a female basking shark, a species protected under Spanish law. The fisherman immediately alerted the CRAM Foundation (the Foundation for the Conservation and Recovery of Marine Animals), a marine rescue organisation based in the area, as soon as he realised what he had unintentionally caught.
A spokesperson for CRAM confirmed that the capture had not been intentional and said: “The fisherman followed all the required protocols and got in touch with us straight away.”
The striking footage has since gone viral on social media platform X, with more than 150,000 views. The clip shows a group of curious onlookers gathering as the massive shark is brought to shore, with what appears to be fishing net tangled around its tail fin.
Sources said the shark became increasingly entangled as it struggled to free itself, and sadly it had already died by the time it reached land.
CRAM researchers have taken samples from the animal to learn more about it.
Basking sharks are the second largest fish species in the world and the biggest to be found in the Mediterranean Sea. While their wide, gaping mouths may look alarming, they are gentle giants that feed solely on plankton and pose no threat to humans.
They can often be spotted off the coast of the UK, especially around Scotland where plankton rich waters attract them each spring. Sightings are not uncommon there, and these creatures undertake vast migrations through both temperate and tropical waters.
In fact, the largest basking shark ever recorded was more than 40 feet long.
Despite common fears, shark attacks are extremely rare. Just 47 people were injured in unprovoked attacks worldwide in 2024, the lowest figure seen in nearly three decades.
Image: George Desipris/Pexels
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