Rare basking shark caught off Al Hoceima raises scientific questions

The port of Al Hoceima recently witnessed an unusual environmental and scientific event: the accidental capture of a young basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus), a rare species in the region.
Researcher Tariq Qiqay, a marine biology specialist at the biodiversity, ecology and genomes laboratory of the Faculty of Sciences in Rabat, said that field data collected from fishermen and fish traders at the port suggest that this is the first time this species has been recorded in the area, giving the event particular scientific value.
The basking shark is the second largest fish in the world and the largest in the Mediterranean, reaching over twelve meters in length and weighing up to six tons.
It is listed as an endangered species on the IUCN Red List.
Its presence near Al Hoceima raises hypotheses about environmental changes, such as a plankton bloom or strong currents that diverted the animal.
The researcher calls for strengthening scientific cooperation and involving fishermen in monitoring to better understand these phenomena.