Fatal shark incident in the eastern Mediterranean Sea highlights urgent need for enhanced management measures

The aggregation of dusky sharks ( Carcharhinus obscurus ) and sandbar sharks ( C . plumbeus ) around coastal infrastructure in the eastern Mediterranean Sea presents an opportunity to advance both conservation and sustainable tourism. However, in the absence of a robust governance framework and effective enforcement of public behaviour, sharks are exposed to a range of human pressures during periods of heightened vulnerability and within spatially constrained habitats—conditions that increase risks to both their welfare and public safety. Here, we report the first documented fatal interaction globally involving dusky sharks, and potentially sandbar sharks, at the aggregation site near the Orot-Rabin power and desalination station in Hadera, Israel. While it remains unknown whether the swimmer's behaviour played a role in precipitating the event, it occurred under a combination of ecological and anthropogenic conditions identified as potential drivers of altered shark behaviour. This report underscores the urgency of implementing adaptive, science-based management measures and offers critical insight into the risks associated with unregulated human–shark proximity in coastal environments. Photograph by Tal Meir, April 19, 2025. • First fatal shark incident involving dusky and possibly sandbar sharks recorded globally. • Incident occurred at a coastal power station aggregation site in the eastern Mediterranean. • Ecological and anthropogenic stressors may have altered shark behaviour. • Fragmented governance enabled risky human–shark interactions at the site. • Adaptive, science-based management urgently needed to ensure safety and conservation.