A fisherman in Cyprus fought a shark: the moment caught on video

On the coast of Cyprus, an amateur fisherman captured an unexpected struggle with a shark on video. The footage, published on social media, quickly went viral. In the video, the man is seen holding the fishing rod tightly as it bends under tension while a large fish tries to pull him into the sea.

Video on our Telegram channel: https://t.me/cyprusfaqnews/6823

The video author captioned it: “Today the ‘dorada’ gave me the best fishing experience.” However, it later turned out that it was not a dorada but a shark. Despite a prolonged struggle, the fisherman could not bring it ashore — the marine animal freed itself and swam away.

According to the Cyprus Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (Τμήμα Αλιείας και Θαλασσίων Ερευνών), the caught fish belongs to the species Galeorhinus galeus (school shark or tope shark). This species is considered protected, as its population in the eastern Mediterranean has significantly declined. The department reminds that in case of accidental shark catch, fishermen must immediately release them back into the sea, avoiding injury.

The video sparked active discussion on social media. Some users admired the fisherman’s endurance, while others highlighted the risks and urged caution near the coast. Environmentalists reminded that such incidents emphasize the importance of preserving marine fauna and responsible ecosystem behavior.

According to experts, in recent years shark sightings near Cyprus shores have increased, but they do not pose a danger to humans if distance is maintained and calm behavior is observed.