Habitat
Open coastal and pelagic waters; seasonally moves through the Strait following plankton blooms.
All species
Basking Shark
Cetorhinus maximus
Not aggressive
The world's second-largest fish — a gentle giant that filter-feeds on plankton.
Maximum size
7–9.1 m
Aggressiveness
Not aggressive
Ecology
Highly migratory. Aggregations have been documented in the Alboran Sea adjacent to Gibraltar.
Feeding
Passive ram filter feeder — swims slowly with mouth agape, straining zooplankton through gill rakers.
Behaviour
Often surface-feeds with the dorsal fin and tail tip exposed. Frequently solitary, sometimes in small groups.
Safety notes
Harmless to humans. Maintain distance to avoid stressing the animal or being struck by the tail.
Conservation status
IUCN: Endangered.
Sources & Citations
Data compiled from peer-reviewed and authoritative open sources. Last reviewed 2026.
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status for each species.
- The Shark Trust — Species Database
Biology, ecology and identification.
- FishBase
Maximum sizes, distribution and life-history data.
- Florida Museum — International Shark Attack File
Documented species behaviour around humans.
- Nature Gibraltar / Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society
Local marine fauna records around the Strait.