A basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) weighing 330 kilograms, was caught by fishermen off the northern port city of Kavala.
The basking shark, also known as 'pilgrim shark' in Greece, is the second-largest living shark, after the whale shark, and one of three plankton-eating shark species, along with the whale shark and megamouth shark. Adults typically reach 7.9 m in length. It is usually greyish-brown, with mottled skin.
The story sparked minor controversy in the local community, with some praising the fishermen for a fine catch, while others expressed their opposition, given that it is a protected species.
It was not yet clear whether the shark was accidentally caught in the fishermen's nets or was deliberately hunted down.