Iceland is home to one of the longest-living shark species – the Greenland Shark. This shark’s meat is used in preparing the national dish of Iceland known as kæstur hákarl. However, other species of shark have also been spotted there, including the basking shark, the Porbeagle shark, and the school shark.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Iceland
| Species | Maximum
Size |
Aggressiveness |
Basking Shark |
23-30 feet | Not aggressive |
Greenland Shark |
7.9–14.1 feet | Not aggressive |
| Porbeagle Shark | 6-12 feet | Not aggressive |
| School Shark | 6-7 feet | Not aggressive |
| Smooth Hammerhead Shark | 8-12 feet | Not aggressive (but are potentially dangerous) |
| Spiny Dogfish | 2.5-3.5 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small size) |
Recent Cases of Shark Attacks in Iceland >>
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in Iceland?
There have been no reported incidents through a Greenland shark that was once captured with a human leg inside.
2. Are the sharks in Iceland endangered or going extinct?
Iceland heavily depends on fishing, with several species like the Greenland shark, the Porbeagle, and several species of dogfish being fished there. These actions place these sharks at risk.
3. Can you go swimming with sharks in Iceland?
There are places where tours are arranged where one can go diving with basking sharks.
4. Are there great white sharks in Iceland?
Great whites prefer coastal waters and, as such, cannot tolerate the cold waters of the Arctic.
