Shark alarm on the Dutch coast: vacationers can stay relaxed!

Shark alarm on the Dutch coast: vacationers can stay relaxed!

The Netherlands is a popular holiday destination, especially because of its beaches on the North Sea. In recent years, shark sightings have become more frequent on the Dutch coast, causing concern among many tourists. However, experts emphasize that most of these shark species are harmless to humans. Loud ruhr24.de Eleven different shark species have so far been recorded on the coasts of the Netherlands, including some that have made headlines in recent months.

Particularly relevant is an incident on May 11, when a shark was observed swimming near the Belgian border, but its species could not be determined. In addition, a dead five-meter-long thresher shark was found near Ijmuiden, near Amsterdam, in July 2023. Most of the shark species spotted, such as the dogfish and the small-spotted catshark, are small and pose absolutely no danger to bathers.

The harmless ones in the water

The more commonly spotted sharks include the dogfish, which grows up to one meter long, as well as the dogfish and the white-spotted smooth shark, both of which are slightly larger but are also considered harmless. Another species found in the region is the blue shark, which can grow up to three meters long and typically avoids coastal waters. The impressive basking shark, which has also been spotted in the North Sea, can grow up to ten meters long and feeds on plankton, meaning it poses no danger to tourists.

The great white shark, which is occasionally spotted in the North Sea, is not part of its natural habitat. Report anyway daily news that shark populations have been changing in recent years due to warming waters and climate change. This could be because the cod are moving north and thus the sharks, rays and sea bass are moving in from the southern waters.

Scientific investigations and observations

Fishermen in the region have begun marking the sharks' routes by placing small tags that look like spaghetti noodles. These tags enable satellite tracking of the sharks' digital migrations and help document the movements. The aim of these studies, which have been carried out every summer for over ten years, is to show that the Dutch North Sea could be a birthplace for different species of sharks, especially dog ​​sharks.

Recent observations show that males migrate to Scotland and Norway in winter, while females migrate to Bordeaux and the Bay of Biscay. In summer both sexes return and often meet at the same waters as the previous year. There is no need for concern for tourists on the beaches: the sharks are harmless, and even larger species such as the basking shark pose no threat.