Portuguese beaches are on alert. Blue sharks sighted near popular spots

Local authorities in Obidos and Caldas da Rainha, two municipalities in western Portugal, have warned residents. They advise against using local bathing spots due to the presence of dangerous sharks.

Officials have identified two blue sharks in the area, which can grow up to 8 feet 2 inches in length.

The waterbody, affectionately known as "the pond," is a major attraction in Obidos, drawing thousands of visitors annually. Authorities caution that sharks have been spotted near the popular Bom Sucesso and Foz do Arelho sea beaches and deep within the bay, more than 1.2 miles from the Atlantic Ocean's shore.

The Obidos municipality stated that it is extremely rare for blue sharks to venture this far from the shoreline.

Biological experts in Portugal have noted an increased visibility of sharks along the Iberian Peninsula’s coasts, including in bays and river deltas like the Tagus. They attribute this to the sharks searching for food and the improved water quality along Portugal’s coasts.

In an incident over 100 miles from Vila do Conde last August, a Portuguese fisherman came face-to-face with a blue shark. The 35-year-old was promptly rescued by the Portuguese Air Force and taken to a hospital in Porto for treatment of severe bites.