Spotted Smoothhound Shark Sighted Off Blankenberge Coast
A spotted smoothhound shark (Mustelus asterias) was sighted in the swimming zone near the casino in Blankenberge on Wednesday afternoon, July 1, 2026, drawing attention from beachgoers and lifeguards alike. The animal swam briefly in the shallow waters before departing on its own, with lifeguards confirming the species poses no danger to humans, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.
Context: A Rare Sight in Belgian Waters
While sharks are not uncommon in the North Sea, live sightings of spotted smoothhound sharks so close to the shore are relatively rare along the Belgian coast. The species, which can grow up to 1.4 meters in length, is typically found on muddy sand bottoms at depths of 5 to 350 meters across the northeastern Atlantic, from the British Isles to the Canary Islands and into the Mediterranean, according to Wikipedia.
The Blankenberge sighting comes just weeks after a significant mass stranding event that saw more than 100 dead spotted smoothhound sharks wash ashore between Koksijde and De Panne in late May 2026, as reported by VRT NWS.
What Happened at Blankenberge
Beach lifeguards spotted the shark in the designated swimming zone near the casino and monitored the animal closely. Head lifeguard Tom Cocle, who has served as Blankenberge’s head lifeguard for 26 seasons, described the encounter: “The little creature swam around a bit and then left again.” No swimmers were evacuated from the water, and lifeguards confirmed there was no need for concern.
The sighting was reported by local media on July 3, with Het Laatste Nieuws publishing a 31-second video report of the event. The Blankenberge lifeguard service, which operates from May 9 to September 15 each year, maintains vigilant monitoring of the swimming zones, as detailed on the official Visit Blankenberge tourism website.
The Broader Picture: Increased Shark Activity
The Blankenberge sighting is part of a broader pattern of increased spotted smoothhound shark activity in Belgian coastal waters this year. In late May 2026, a mass stranding event unfolded along the West Coast between Koksijde and De Panne, with over 100 dead sharks — mostly pregnant adult females — washing ashore over the course of several days.
Marine biologists from the Institute for Agricultural, Fisheries and Food Research (ILVO) and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (KBIN) launched an investigation into the strandings. Joanna Desmidt of ILVO told VRT NWS that the species is common in Belgian waters, adding: “We’ve received some reports from people who are worried. That’s certainly not necessary, because the spotted smoothhound shark is common in our waters.”
Kelle Moreau, a marine biologist at KBIN, noted that the leading hypothesis is bycatch from fishing vessels: “We also assume it concerns bycatch, that the animals were caught and thrown back and did not survive that process. But you never know if something else is going on, maybe the warm weather has something to do with it.”
Fishing Industry Responds
The Belgian Fisheries Producers Organisation (BFPO, formerly Rederscentrale) issued a statement denying that Belgian fishing vessels were responsible for the stranded sharks. According to Visserij.nl, Emiel Brouckaert of the BFPO stated: “Belgian fishermen do not use fishing techniques with which this species is easily caught. Moreover, as far as is known, no Belgian fishermen were active in the area at the time the sharks presumably died.”
Scientists are exploring multiple theories, including the possibility that a new nursery ground has formed off the West Coast, or that the sharks were migrating toward the Scheldt Delta, which was officially recognized as a nursery area for this species in 2025.
Understanding the Spotted Smoothhound Shark
The spotted smoothhound shark is a slender, harmless species that feeds primarily on crustaceans. It is ovoviviparous, giving birth to up to 15 pups of approximately 30 centimeters each. Listed as “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List as of 2020, the species has shown signs of recovery in the North Sea after being largely absent from Dutch coastal waters between 1970 and 1985. Research by Wageningen University indicates the species is now fairly common off the coast of Zeeland.
What to Watch For
The Blankenberge sighting, combined with the mass stranding event, suggests that spotted smoothhound sharks are increasingly present in Belgian coastal waters. Scientists continue to investigate the exact causes of the strandings, with ongoing research examining potential links to fishing practices, climate change, and shifting nursery grounds.
For beachgoers, lifeguards emphasize that the species is harmless to humans. The Blankenberge sighting serves as a reminder that the North Sea hosts a diverse marine ecosystem — and that encountering a shark does not mean danger.
This article was compiled from reports by Het Laatste Nieuws, VRT NWS, Visserij.nl, and scientific sources.