For years it was considered a safe species for tourist viewing, but the Hadera incident has shaken that perception: a dusky shark (Carcharhinus obscurus) caused the first known death of a bather by this species in the eastern Mediterranean.
The victim, Barak Tzach, 40 years old and Tel Aviv resident, was snorkeling at Olga Beach with a mask, fins, and an action camera when he was attacked. Witnesses heard his cries for help and described how the water turned red; only small remains were recovered the following day, according to an analysis published in the journal Ethology.
What is known about the attack and the victim
On April 21, 2025, in Hadera (Israel)Tzach went a few meters out to sea to film a group of sharks. Rescue boats arrived quickly, but They couldn't locate him alive; subsequent forensic identification confirmed that the attack involved several specimens.
The research team led by Eric Clua (PSL University of Paris) And Kristian Parton (University of Exeter) concludes that dusky sharks were responsible, the first documented fatality involving this species. Common names such as "dusky" and "dusky" have been mentioned in the media, but the scientific reference is unequivocal: Carcharhinus obscurus.
It is a large coastal predator that can reach Up to 3,6 meters and exceed 150 kilos. Although it is a carnivore, it was not included in the species with lethal attacks to documented humans, and usually avoid close contact.
The authors of the study emphasize that the species is not considered "traumatic" for people in normal conditions. Precisely for this reason, the Hadera case has been treated as a extraordinary event in which several risk factors converged.
Why it could have happened: cameras, food and habitation
One of the key hypotheses of the report points to the GoPro that the victim was carrying. Although small, these cameras emit a faint electromagnetic signal that some sharks may associate with that of a wounded fish. One curious specimen was able to give a reflex or clumsy bite toward the device, hitting the swimmer holding it.
That first contact would have been enough to trigger the rest. The combination of blood in the water and the snap of the jaw could have acted as sound and olfactory stimulation, rapidly mobilizing other sharks and precipitating a feeding frenzy in a matter of seconds.
The study also points to the role of humans in the Hadera area. The environment has become a concentration point due to the warm water released by a nearby plant, in addition to the custom of some tourists and fishermen feeding sharks with leftoversThis practice would have encouraged “begging”: animals accustomed to approaching people in search of food.
For Clua and Parton, the responsibility for the incident is essentially human. Therefore, they recommend ban artificial feeding of sharks and limit activities that increase the risk, such as underwater fishing in areas of high presence, insisting that this is a rare occurrence.
Measures and lessons for the Mediterranean coasts
The scientists' proposals include strengthening coastal management: surveillance and education To prevent waste from being thrown into the sea, coordination with tour operators and guides to maintain safe distances and clear guidelines when sharks are sighted.
The team strongly advises against extreme “remedies”: no to mass sacrifice nor indiscriminate measures against marine wildlife. Instead, they focus on prevention, monitoring, and enforcement of regulations that minimize the incentives that bring these animals closer to people.
In the context of the Mediterranean, including the European coasts, the message is clear: avoid deliberate feedings, don't leave fishing debris, and remain cautious when sharks are present. Safe coexistence depends, to a large extent, on reduce habituation and stimuli that confuse animals.
The Hadera case has reopened the debate on security and marine tourism. Classified as 'non-dangerous' species under normal conditions, The “harmless” label is no longer valid If technology, easy food, and loss of distance are combined, experts agree. The key is to change human practices before a tragedy happens again.
