While there are quite a few shark species in Portugal, sightings are rare, and if you go swimming, you most likely won’t encounter one.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in Portugal
| Species | Maximum
Size |
Aggressiveness |
| Basking Shark | 23-30 feet | Not aggressive |
| Bigeye Thresher Shark | 11-16 feet | Not aggressive |
| Blue Shark | 6-11 feet | Not aggressive |
| Common Thresher Shark | 12-18 feet | Not aggressive |
| Frilled Shark | 5.6-6.6 feet | Not aggressive |
| Great White Shark | 11-16 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Longfin Mako Shark | 12-14 feet | Not aggressive |
| Oceanic Whitetip Shark | 10-13 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Porbeagle Shark | 6-12 feet | Not aggressive |
| Shortfin Mako Shark | 6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Silky Shark | 7-10 feet | Highly 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) |
| Whale Shark | 18-32 feet | Not aggressive |
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in Portugal?
There have only been eight reported attacks by sharks in Portugal’s history.
2. Are there great white sharks in Portugal?
While great white sharks might appear on the coasts of Portugal, there have been almost no sightings, even in deep waters.
