Sharks off the coast of Ashkelon. Photo: Channel 2.

Sharks are becoming more visible of late in Israel’s part of the Mediterranean. A man’s hand was bitten by one off the coast of Ashdod a month ago, and now a large group of sharks was spotted swimming near Rutenberg Power Station, in Ashkelon, by a worker there.

The employee snapped the featured photo. He told Israel’s Channel 2 there were 13 or 14 of them, swimming in circles for 10 minutes or so before heading back out to sea.

Dr. Roi Holzman, a specialist in marine biology at Tel Aviv University, told Channel 2 that there was little to be afraid of as it’s a natural occurrence, and in general sharks aren’t interested in attacking people.

“Yes, it is a predator and aggressive, but [the shark] is not looking for people on the beaches. Moreover – as an animal accustomed to finding its livelihood in open water, it’s not looking for prey larger than it is,” he said.

“In fact, it’s incorrect to think that entering the water with a bleeding wound will attract a shark. The shark may attack, but only if it feels threatened.”