Following the circulation of videos on social media purporting to show sharks at Agadir Beach in southwest Morocco, the Association of Sea Lovers for Spearfishing and Environment Protection issued a statement refuting such rumors.
The association rejected the reports of shark attacks, including a video showing a woman allegedly injured by a shark. The incident did not occur in Agadir, but happened outside of Morocco, according to the association.
Another video of Agadir’s beach showed the dorsal fin of a large fish, which many observers believed to be a shark. The organization said that the fish was actually a Risso’s dolphin, a species that can reach a length of up to 4.5 meters and weigh between 400 and 500 kilograms.
“Its distinctive square-shaped head and large, protruding forehead give it a resemblance to a shark. However, it is not as widely shared on social media,” the statement read.
The Risso’s dolphin is known for its timid nature and poses no threat to swimmers.
The Association strongly condemned the spread of false and misleading information on social media, stating that “such content can cause panic among beachgoers and jeopardize public safety, particularly given that Agadir beach is a major international tourist destination.”