Section 7 Species Presence Information: Oceanic Whitetip Sharks in the Greater Atlantic Region
Information on oceanic whitetip shark presence in the New England/Mid-Atlantic area for Section 7 consultations.
Note: Due to their rare occurrence, mainly offshore, within the Greater Atlantic Region, the oceanic whitetip shark is not included in our Species Tables or Section 7 Mapper. When considering whether to include an analysis of oceanic whitetip sharks in your consultation request, please see the information below.
In the western Atlantic Ocean, oceanic whitetip sharks (Carcharhinus longimanus) occur from Maine to Argentina, including in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. It is a highly migratory species that is usually found offshore in the open ocean, on the outer continental shelf, or around oceanic islands (Bonfil et al. 2008; Young et al. 2017). The species is usually found in water temperatures between 15°C and 28°C, but exhibits a strong preference for the surface mixed layer in water with temperatures above 20°C (Bonfil et al. 2008) and is considered a surface-dwelling shark. Little is known about movements or possible migration paths (Young et al. 2017). Currently, the most significant threat to oceanic whitetip sharks is mortality in commercial fisheries, largely driven by demand of the international shark fin trade and bycatch-related mortality, as well as illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing. Oceanic whitetip sharks are generally not targeted, but they are frequently caught as bycatch in many global fisheries, including pelagic longline fisheries targeting tuna and swordfish, purse seine, gillnet, and artisanal fisheries (Young et al. 2017; Young and Carlson 2020).
Although some Greater Atlantic Region fisheries and other activities have the potential to interact with oceanic whitetip sharks, these sharks are found farther offshore in the open ocean, on the continental shelf, or around oceanic islands in deep water greater than 600 ft (184 m). Given the more offshore distribution of oceanic whitetip sharks, little overlap between fishing and other activities and oceanic whitetip sharks is expected in the region. There have not been any observed interactions between Greater Atlantic Region fisheries and oceanic whitetip sharks since the beginning of the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program in 1989.
To view the full references, see Citations and References for All Species.