Endangered Species Act Status Review Report: Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus)

This report was produced in response to a petition received from Defenders of Wildlife on January 25, 2021, to list the shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Under the ESA, if a petition is found to present substantial scientific or commercial information that the petitioned action may be warranted, a status review shall be promptly commenced (16 U.S.C. 1533(b)(3)(A)). On April 15, 2021, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced in the Federal Register that the petition presented substantial information in support of the petitioned action and that a status review would be conducted (86 FR 19863). This report summarizes the best available scientific and commercial information on the shortfin mako shark and presents an evaluation of its status and extinction risk.