ANNALES • Ser. hist, nat. • 13 • 2003 • 2 original scientific pape: UDK 597.3(262.5143(091) received: 2003 02-27 HISTORICAL RECORDS OF THE GREAT WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LINNAEUS, 1758) (LAMNIFORMES, LAMNÍDAE), FROM THE SEA OF MARMARA Hakan KABASAKAL Ichtbyological Research Society, Ata tur k Mah3llesí, Mentesogiti Caddesi, idil a pi., No 30, O 4, TR-34/6N CARCHASIAS (LINNAEUS. 1?5i).... 173-180 Although the dates of two records of C. carcharias from the Bosporus Strait by Fergus son (1996) are earlier (both in 1881) than those of Devedjian (1926), the former author has not given any detailed information on the presence of great white sharks in Turkish waters. However, concerning the 3 data reported by Fergusson (1996), two of which were reported without source and the third as a personal communication from C. Wood, a confirmation of these recordings from the Sea of Marmara is strongly required, as some other data presented by the same author from the Mediterranean Sea, especially its western basin, have been indicated as unreliable by BarrulE & Mate (2001) and Celona eta/. (2001). In 1916, an enormous great white shark (700 cm TL) entered the Salistra fish trap near Fenerbahge harbour (northern Sea of Marmara) (Devedjian, 1945; case No. 3 in Tab. 1). The shark, entangled in the nets and ropes of the fish trap, was killed by fishermen after shot three times in its head. According to the author, it was impossible to transport (he shark to the auction place of the fish market, so it was eviscerated and cut at the fish trap and sold. Devedjian (1945) staled that its head only weighed nearly 200 kilograms. Since there are very few records from all over the world on great white sharks exceeding the length of 650 cm (Compagno, 1984), the size of this individual (700 cm), as estimated by Devedjian (1945), seems unreliable. On May of 1920, another great white shark (465 cm TL and weighing nearly 1,200 kg) was been captured with a swordfish line off the coast of Sedef adasi (Devedjian, 1945; case No. 4 in Tab. 1). This specimen, whose stomach contents are presented in Tab. 1, was displayed at the Istanbul Fish Market for a long time. Devedjian (1945) stated that the length of each pectoral fin of the specimen was 80 cm and the height of the first Fig. 2: 450 cm TL sperimen captured off fhe coast of Buyukada (čase No. 6) (Agop Savufs arcbive). SI. 2: 450 cm (TL) dolgi primerek, ujet v bližini Buyii-kade (primer št. 6) (arhiv Agopa Savula). dorsal fin 60 cm. A capture of another great white shark-prior to 1926 was also reported by Devedjian (3926). Total length of this specimen (case No. 5 in Tab. 1) was 400 cm, and it was landed at the Istanbul Fish Market. Devedjian (1926) reported that 8 large bonitos were found in the stomach contents of this specimen and that the width at the widest part of its body was 135 cm. According to Devedjian (1926), the meat of great while sharks captured in Istanbul waters (northern Sea uf Marmara) is seldom consumed by people. Another great white shark (450 cm TL) was captured on 20 February 1926 off the coast of Büyükada (F ig. 2; case No. 6 in Tab. 1), with its reported weight exceeding 1,500 kg (Agop Savul, pers. comm.). On 30 March 1954, a great white shark (450 cm TL and 1,500 kg W) was captured by a tuna hand-liner off the coast of Tuzla (Agop Savul, pers. comm.; Fig. 3, case No. 7 in Tab. 1). This shark, too, was displayed at the Istanbul Fish Market for a long time. Two years later, on 15 April 1956, an enormous great white shark (618 cm Fig. 3: 450 cm TL specimen captured off the coast of Tuzla (case No. 7) (Agop Savul's arcbive). SI. 3: 450 cm (TL) dolgi primerek, ujet v bližini turškega obmorskega mesteca Tuzla (primer št. 7) (arhiv Agopa Savula). 176 ANNALES • Scr. hist. nat. -13' 2003 • 2 Hakan KA6ASAKAL: MtSTOPJCA! RECORDS Of THF CREAI WHITE SHARK, CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LINNAEUS, I7S8).. . 17J-SB0 TL and 3000 kg W) was captured by a tuna hand-liner, Aziz Uniti, off the coast of Prince Islands in the northern Sea of Marmara (Agop Savul, pers. comm.; case No. 8 in Tab. 1). While he was cruising along the coast of Prince Islands during the early morning hours, the mentioned great white shark was hooked, and he was able to harpoon it only after a 7-hour fighting with the shark. Six years later, on February 1962, another great white shark 1500+ cm TL and 3750 kg W) was captured in the Bosporus Strait {Fergusson, 1996; case No. 9 in Tab. 1). Fergusson (1996I stated that the mass of this specimen had surely been miss-estimated. On 28 December 1965, another great white shark (500 cm TL and 4000 kg W) was captured by three fishermen in the Bosporus Strait during bluefin tuna fishing. After a long and hard fight, the fishermen harpooned the shark and landed it on Dotmabahge coast (Agop Savul, pers. comm.; case No. 10 in Tab. 1). On the same day, another great white shark (700 cm TL and nearly 3000 kg W) was caught by Huseyin Saivarli off the coast of Maiden's Tower in southern part of the Bosporus Strait Fig. 4: 700 cm TL specimen captured near Maiden's Tower (case No. 11) (Agop Savul's archive). SI. 4: 700 cm (TL) dolgi beli morski yolk, ujet v bližini Dekliškega stolpa (primer št. 11) (arhiv Agopa Savula). (Agop Savul, pers. comm.; Fig. 4, case No. 11 in Tab-15. After capturing a bluefin tuna (weighing nearly 390 kg) he dropped his line into the water, but this time the mentioned great white shark was hooked. The shark towed (he small fishing boat in the Strait for quite some time, but finally the fisherman succeeded in gaffing the shark, with the anchor of his boat. On 13 January 1966, two great white sharks (both 400 cm TL and 2000 kg W) were captured in the Bosporus Strait by Hakki Baba and Ali Yavur, fishermen from Karakoy Port, Istanbul. After 4.5 hours of fighting, the fishermen harpooned the sharks near Kabata§ coast (Agop Savul, pers. comm.; Fig. 5, case nos. 12 & 13 in Tab. 1). No great white sharks have been captured neither in the Sea of Marmara nor in the Bosporus Strait between 1966 and 1974. The capture of a great white shark, weighing nearly 2000 kg, off the coast of Prince islands in northern Marmara has been reported by Cuney (1974), however, the exact date of capture of this specimen is uncertain (case No. 14 in Tab. 1). One of the more recent records of the great white shark ir> the Sea of Marmara is dated to 1985. A specimen, nearly 500 cm in total length, was sighted by a fisherman off the north-eastern coast of Kapidag peninsula (southern Sea of Marmara, Fig. 1) (case. No. 15 in lab. 1). The fisherman stated that the shark had circled around his boat for a few minutes and then disappeared (Agop Savul, pers. comm.). DISCUSSION As it can be seen from the above data, afl but one (No. 15 in Tab, 1) great white sharks were reported from northern Marmaric waters, around Prince Islands and southern Bosporus Strait (Fig. 1). Besides the entrapped specimen in Salistra fish trap (case No. 3 in Tab. 1), the three records by Fergusson (1996; case nos. 1, 2 & 9 in Tab. 1) who gave no information on the type of their capture, and the specimen sighted off the coast: of Kaptdag peninsula while swimming near the surface (case No. 15 in Tab. 1), the remaining 10 great white sharks were accidentally captured by bluefin tuna (9 cases) and swordfish (1 case) hand-liners. Accidental captures of great white sharks are therefore closely associated with artisan fishery (hand-lining) of the bluefin tuna. Although the abundance of bluefin tuna, Thunnus thynnus, reaches its peak in pre-Bosporic waters of the Black Sea and in the Bosporus Strait especially in July, this period may be extended to the end of August. Bluefin tunas migrate towards the Aegean Sea from October to the end of December (Ak§iray, 1987; Karakulak & Oray, 1994). However, in some years, when air and sea winter temperatures are higher than usual averages, some bluefin tunas do not continue with their southwestern migration, but ovewinter in the waters of Prince Is- 177 ANNAltS • Ser. hist. nat. • 13 • 2003 • 2 Hak.m KAAASaKAI.: HISTOttlCAf. RECORDS OF THE GREAT WHUf SHARK, CARCHAROOON CARCHARIAS 1INNACUS, 1758) ... 173-100 Fig. 5: 400 cm TL specimens harpooned off the coast of Kabatas, with arrow indicating the belly of the second specimen overturned on the left of the photograph (case Nos 12 & 13) (Agop Savul's archive). St. 5; 400 cm (TL) dolga primerka, harpunirana blizu Kahata$a; puščica kaže na trebuh drugega primerka, obrnjenega na hrbtu na levi strani fotografije (primera št. 12 in 13) (arhiv Agopa Savula). lands and in the channel area of the Bosporus Strait {Oner, 1984). Giiney (1974) and Uner (198-1) reported that the great white sharks were rarely seen entering the Bosporus Strait, while in pursuit of bonitos and biuefin lunas. Accidental capture of these predatory sharks in the waters of Prince islands and in the Bosporus Strait was usually a consequence of the great white sharks chasing these large bony fishes (Oner, 1984). Karakulak & Oray (1994) reported that the bluefin tuna had not occurred in the Black and Marmara Seas since 1987, which means that one of the great white shark's main preys became extinct in the mentioned seas. The latest recording of the great white shark from the Sea of Marmara (1985, case-No. 15 in Tab. 1) remarkably correlates with the latest recording of the bluefin tunas from the same area (1987). Still, such situation in the area may be due to; (1) the absence of one of their main prey, bluefin tuna, in the Sea of Marmara and owing to the great white sharks not entering this sea at least since their last recording, or (2) great white sharks are still present in the Sea of Marmara but there has been no accidental capture of this species due to the disuse of bluefin tuna lines (or lines for other large bony fishes). Some extensive investigations would be thus required to give reliable answers to the above questions. Aksiray (1987) reported that great white sharks had been absent in the Sea of Marmara and in the Bosporus Strait for the last 20 to 25 years. Regarding the year of publication of his book (1987), this span covers the period between 1962 and 1967. Despite Aksiray's suggestion, at least one great white shark was captured or sighted in 1974 and 1985 (case nos. 14 & 15 in Tab. 1). With the exception o! 5 cases (case nos. 3, 4, 5, 14 & 15 in Tab. 1), the great white sharks were captured between in id-November and mid-April. Two of the 5 cases (nos. 4 & 15 in Tab. 1) were captured in May, while the date of capture of the remaining 3 specimens is unknown. Oner (1984) reported that great white sharks were captured in the waters of Prince Islands and Bosporus Strait from December to the end of March, but added that this period could vary depending on temperature of the sea. Still, no great white sharks were captured or sighted in the Sea of Marmara between May and November (or December). Annual temperatures of the Sea of Marmara surface waters range from 4 to 24°C, while during November and April, when the accidental captures of great white sharks readied their peak, they range from 7"C. (November) and 21CC (April). Great white sharks are known to occur in waters with temperatures ranging from 7 to 27°C (mainly 15 to 22°C) (Nakaya, 1994). The thermal tolerance of this species is demonstrated by its latitudinal distribution (Compagno, 1984). In the Catalonian Sea, the seasonality of great white shark recordings showed an increase during the winter months and it has been suggested that this is due to the great white sharks searching for colder waters (Barrull & Mate, 2001). Eurythermal nature of the great white shark suggests that the species can remain in Marmaric waters all year round and that winter presence of these sharks in surface waters and thfeir summer presence in deeper parts of the Sea of Marmara are therefore probably the result of this species searching for cold waters. CONCLUSIONS The available data suggest that great white sharks used to be regularly although somewhat rarely captured in Marmaric waters between the late 1800s and the late 1960s. The seasonality of records has shown an increase in their occurrence during the winter months. In view of the last confirmed record of this shark in the Sea of Marmara (in the year 1985), the species had been present in this sea until the last quarter of the 20th century. The occurrences as well as capture of great white sharks are closeiy associated with pelagic fishery, especially with hand-lining of bluefin tuna. Bluefin tunas, one of the great white shark's main preys, are known to have been absent in the Sea of Marmara since 1987. Because of this reason, hand-lining of this large pelagic bony fish was also abandoned in Marmaric and Bosporic waters at least 25 years ago. Although commercial purse-seining vessels still operate in the Sea of Marmara for capturing bonlto, Sarda sarda, bluefish, Pomatomus saltalor, arid other pelagic bony fishes, no current capture record of the great white shark has been reported by these vessels from Marmaric waters. The available data suggest that great white sharks no longer occur in the Sea of Marmara. Ex- 178 ANNALES • Ser. hist, nat. • 13 • 2003 • 2 Haka« KABASAKAL: HISTORICAL RtCOFtRSOI- FUE CREATWHHF SHARK, CARCHARODON CAUCHARIAS (LINNAEUS. 173«),.., l?3-t«0 tensive investigations and cooperation with commercial ACKNOWLEDGEMENT fishermen are required in order to clarify the current status of this apex predator in this small inland sea. The author wishes to thank Mr. Agop Savul for his kind permission to work in his archive. ZGODOVINSKI PODATKI O POJAVLJANJU BELEGA MORSKEGA VOLKA CARCHARODON CARCHARIAS (LINNÉ, 1758) (LAMNI FORMES, LAMNIDAE) V MARMARSKEM MORJU Hakan KABASAKAL khthyoíoglcai Research íiocieíy, Atatürk Mahatlesi, Mentejoglu Cadrfesi, Idil apt., No 30, D 4, TR-34764 Ümrantye, Istanbuí E-mali: bakarskabasaka I ©hoitn a 11, com POVZETEK Avtor članka navaja petnajst zgodovinskih podatkov o pojavljanju belega morskega volka Carcharodon cardiarias (Linné, 1758) v Marmarsfrem morju (Turčija). Zapisi, ki so mu bili na voljo, govorijo, da so te morske pse lovili kar redno, čeprav ne ravno pogosto, med koncem 79. stoletja in koncem 60. let dvajsetega stoletja. Večina teh morskih plenilcev je bila ujeta naključno, in sicer ročno z vrvico med lovom na tuna (9 primerov) in mečarico (1 primeri. Pojavljanje belega morskega volka je zatorej tesno povezano s peiaškim ribištvom, posebno lovom na luna Thunnus thynnus. Karakulak & Oray (1994) sta poročala, da se ta tun ne pojavlja v Črnem in Marmarskem morju že od leta 1987, kar seveda pomeni, da je najpomembnejši plen belega morskega volka kratko malo izumrl v omenjenih dveh morjih. Sicer pa čas, v katerem so bili ujeti ti morski psi, kaže na to, da so se pogosteje pojavljali v zimskih mesecih. Glede na zadnje potrjeno pojavljanje belega morskega volka v Marmarskem morju (iz ieta 1985) vse kaže, da je ta beli morski volk živel v lern morju do zadnje četrtine dvajsetega stoletja. Key words: beli morski volk, Carcharodon carcharlas, razširjenost, zgodovinski podatki, Marmarsko morje REFERENCES Aksiray, F. (1987): Turkiye Deniz Baliklart ve Tayin Anahtari. 2llci Edition, Publications of Istanbul University, No. 3490, Istanbul. Ayaçli, S. (1937): Bogaziçi BalikSari. Cumhuriyet Mat-baasi, Istanbul. Barruil, J. & I. 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