Experts warn British Isles could soon face Great White Shark invasion

Shark attacks are most commonly associated with the warmer climates of places like Australia and Florida - but not for long.

Estimated to have around 300 razor-sharp teeth and able to smell blood from up to 3 miles away, Great White Sharks are considered to be one of the most dangerous and vicious predators in our waters.

The majority of shark attacks are also reported to be unprovoked, which means that it's often bad news if one approaches while you're swimming.

Now, you might be thinking that we're safe from the predators on the beaches of the UK - especially as our summers appear to be getting colder and wetter - but that could be about to change.

According to research conducted last year by US-based organisation and worldwide shark tracker Ocearch, the UK's shores could soon be seeing an uptick in sharks.

The preferred ocean temperature for a Great White sits between 12 and 24°C, whereas UK sea temperatures often range from 15 to 20 °C in the summer - well within the ideal range for the sharks.

Warmer areas such as Devon and Cornwall are also home to a variety of seals and dolphins - which is another draw for predators.

"We believe that Mediterranean white sharks should be moving north to feed on seals, like all the other populations we have worked on," Chris Fischer, founder of Ocearch, explained in an interview with The Times.

Great White Sharks can have up to 300 razor sharp teeth. (Getty Stock Images)

He added: "We believe they should be moving up past Brest [in Brittany] and Cornwall."

However, not everyone is convinced by the report, with Gavin Naylor, Director for the Florida Program for Shark Research, revealing the predators may become a problem on UK beaches at some point in the future - but not anytime soon.

"White sharks likely venture into UK waters from time to time but not into coastal areas with a lot of beach goers," he explained, adding: "[This is] unlikely to change much into the foreseeable (decadal) future.

"But in a thousand years - who knows?"

Shark attacks in the UK are still a rare occurrence, with the last unprovoked attack reported to have been in August 2022.

Shark attacks are still rare in the UK. (Getty Stock Images)

The victim was a female swimmer who had been snorkelling off of the coast of Penzance, Cornwall when she was bitten by the animal in the leg.

The woman would later receive medical attention in hospital for her injuries.

The incident is thought to be the first unprovoked shark attack in British waters since 1847.