There are several species of sharks living in Namibian waters. Commonly seen sharks include the bluntnose sixgill shark, the sand tiger shark, and the common thresher shark. Even the ferocious great white shark is seen on a semi-regular basis.
However, attacks seldom happen nowadays. If a shark is sighted close to a beach, warnings are issued to stay away.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Namibia
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
Basking Shark |
23-30 feet | Not aggressive |
| Bluntnose Six-gill Shark | 15-20 feet | Moderately aggressive (rarely targets humans, reports of just one provoked attack) |
| Common Thresher Shark | 12-18 feet | Not aggressive |
Copper Shark |
11-12 feet | Not aggressive |
Great White Shark |
11-16 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Porbeagle Shark | 6-12 feet | Not aggressive |
| Sand Tiger Shark | 7-10 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small mouths) |
Scalloped Hammerhead Shark |
9-12 feet | Moderately aggressive |
| School Shark | 6-7 feet | Not aggressive |
| Sharptooth Houndshark | 5.5-5.6 feet | Not aggressive |
Shortfin Mako Shark |
6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Smooth Hammerhead Shark | 8-12 feet | Not aggressive (but are potentially dangerous) |
| Soupfin Shark | 5-6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Spiny Dogfish | 2.5-3.5 feet | Not aggressive (due to their small size) |
Whale Shark |
18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
Recent Cases of Shark Attacks in Namibia >>
FAQs
1. Are there great white sharks in Namibia?
Yes, these sharks have been seen along the entire Namibian coastline.
2. Does shark fishing take place in Namibia?
Yes, the copper shark is commonly fished up along the shore by anglers and tourists.
3. Have there been shark attacks in Namibia?
Shark attacks are sporadic in Namibia, with only two incidents recorded, the last being in 1981.
4. Are there sharks in Skeleton Coast?
There are approximately 11 shark species on the Skeleton coast, which is also home to a wide variety of wildlife like elephants, lions, seals, etc.
