Status Review Report for Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini)

This status review report was conducted in response to a petition to list the scalloped hammerhead shark under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) (WildEarth Guardians and Friend of Animals to U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Acting through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), August 14, 2011, “Petition to list the scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini) under the U.S. Endangered Species Act either worldwide or as one or more distinct population segments”). NMFS evaluated the petition to determine whether the petitioner provided substantial information as required by the ESA to list a species. Additionally, NMFS evaluated whether information contained in the petition might support the identification of a distinct population segment (DPS) that may warrant listing as a species under the ESA. NMFS determined that the August 14, 2011 petition did present substantial scientific and commercial information, or cited such information in other sources, that the petitioned action may be warranted and, subsequently, NMFS initiated a status review of the scalloped hammerhead shark. This status review report is comprised of two components: (1) the “Status Review” of the species, a document that compiles the best available information on the status of the scalloped hammerhead shark as required by the ESA, and (2) the “Assessment of Extinction Risk” for the species, a document that provides the methods and conclusions of the NMFS Extinction Risk Analysis (ERA) team on the current and future extinction risks of the scalloped hammerhead shark.