Sharks Spotted Near Hadera Power Station Prompt Swimming Ban
Translated & summarized from i24NEWS by baba
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has banned swimming and diving near the Hadera power station due to dozens of sharks. The area poses risks from strong currents, submerged fishing gear, and the sharks themselves. This follows a fatal shark attack in April 2025 on a diver named Barak Tzach. Sharks are a protected species crucial for marine ecosystem health.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Swimming and diving are banned near Hadera power station due to dozens of sharks.
- The Nature and Parks Authority warned of dangerous currents and submerged fishing gear.
- The shark aggregation includes Sandbar and critically endangered Spinetail species.
- A fatal shark attack occurred in April 2025, killing diver Barak Tzach.
- Sharks are protected and vital for maintaining marine ecosystem balance.
The Israel Nature and Parks Authority has prohibited swimming, diving, and snorkeling in the waters near the Hadera power station due to the presence of dozens of sharks. The authority issued the warning on Tuesday, citing dangerous currents and whirlpools created by the warm water discharge from the plant, as well as submerged fishing equipment like hooks and loose lines on the seabed.
Sharks have also been observed along other coastlines, prompting the authority to urge the public to avoid approaching, disturbing, or feeding them, as they are a protected species under Israeli law. The seasonal aggregation includes two species: the Sandbar shark, which can reach three meters in length and weigh 150 kg, and the two-meter-long critically endangered Spinetail shark.
Yigal Ben Ari, Director of the Marine Unit at the Nature and Parks Authority, emphasized the ecological importance of sharks in the Mediterranean Sea, where populations have significantly declined due to overfishing and accidental bycatch. He explained that sharks, as predators, help maintain marine ecosystems by thinning out weaker and slower animals, thereby strengthening other species and the overall marine environment.
The warning follows a fatal incident in April 2025, when Barak Tzach, a diver who was filming the sharks, was attacked and killed. His family stated that he was not using bait and was not provoking the sharks when they approached him. He attempted to swim back to shore but was attacked. Tzach left behind a wife and children.
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