First Record of the Goblin Shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) in the Canary Islands

Abstract We report the first confirmed observation of a live goblin shark ( Mitsukurina owstoni ) in waters of the Canary Islands (Spain). The specimen, approximately 250 cm in total length, was incidentally captured with rod and reel by recreational fishers at a depth of 900 m off San Cristóbal, Gran Canaria, and released after photographic and video documentation. This record constitutes a notable expansion of the species’ known distribution range in the Central–Eastern Atlantic. The finding highlights the ecological significance of deep-sea habitats in the region and underscores the need for continued exploration and monitoring of these poorly studied environments.