Watch: Large tuna enters St Thomas Bay bathing area
An expert thinks the tuna may have escaped from a fish farm
A large fish was spotted in St Thomas Bay on Santa Marija morning, prompting shocked bathers to scramble for the shore.
The fish, most likely a tuna escaped from a fish farm, according to an expert, was spotted in the Marsascala beach around 8.15 am on Friday, police said.
People were immediately evacuated from the sea as the fish swam around in waist-deep water metres away from the shore. The bay was reopened later.
Santa Marija is considered to be one of Malta's most popular days for bathing.
According to a video, onlookers appeared to take the situation lightly, with one person inviting another to try to catch the big fish.
Gregg Nowell of Shark Lab said it is unusual for a tuna fish to get so close to a beach.
“Shallow water for one that size is certainly rare,” he added.
Nowell said that tuna usually travel in schools, so the fact it was on its own could suggest it came from a nearby fish farm, he said.
"They are not really dangerous apart from being large. Hopefully, it finds its way to deeper water," he said.
Shark Lab is a volunteer organisation focusing on researching marine life, particularly sharks, skates and rays.