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Species Directory

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Overview Conservation & Management Resources

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Carcharhinus longimanus

640x427-oceanic-whitetip-shark.png

Protected Status

ESA Threatened
Throughout Its Range
CITES Appendix II
Throughout Its Range
SPAW Annex III
Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region

Quick Facts

Lifespan
Up to 19 years
Length
Up to 11.25 feet
Threats
Bycatch, Harvest for international trade
Region
New England/Mid-Atlantic, Pacific Islands, Southeast, West Coast
See Regulatory Actions
oceanic_whitetip_shark.jpg

About The Species

Oceanic whitetip sharks are large sharks found in tropical and subtropical oceans throughout the world. Oceanic whitetip sharks are long-lived, late maturing, and have low to moderate productivity.

Bycatch in commercial fisheries combined with the rise in demand for shark fins is threatening oceanic whitetip sharks. They are frequently caught in pelagic longline, purse seine, and gillnet fisheries worldwide and their fins are highly valued in the international trade for shark products. Their populations have declined as a result. In 2018, NOAA Fisheries listed the species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Status

Information on the global population size of the oceanic whitetip is lacking. However, several lines of evidence suggest that the once common and abundant shark has experienced declines of potentially significant magnitude due to significant fishing pressure. For example, the oceanic whitetip has declined by approximately 80 to 95 percent across the Pacific Ocean since the mid-1990s.  Substantial abundance declines have also been estimated for the Atlantic Ocean, including an 88 percent decline in the Gulf of Mexico due to commercial fishing. Given their life history traits, particularly their late age of maturity and low reproductive output, oceanic whitetip sharks are inherently vulnerable to depletions, with low likelihood of recovery. Additional research is needed to better understand the population structure and global abundance of the oceanic whitetip shark.

Protected Status

ESA Threatened

  • Throughout Its Range

CITES Appendix II

  • Throughout Its Range

SPAW Annex III

  • Throughout the Wider Caribbean Region

Appearance

Oceanic whitetip sharks have a distinctive pattern of mottled white markings on the tips of their dorsal, pectoral, and tail fins. These markings are why they are called “whitetip” sharks. They are large and have stocky builds. Their dorsal fins are rounded and their pectoral fins are long and paddle-like. The color of their bodies vary depending on where they live.They are generally grayish bronze to brown, while their undersides are whitish with some individuals having a yellow tinge.

Behavior and Diet

The oceanic whitetip shark are considered a top predator, eating at the top of the food chain. They are opportunistic, feeding primarily on bony fishes and cephalpods, such as squid. However, they also reportedly feed on large pelagic sportfish (e.g., tuna, marlin), sea birds, other sharks and rays, marine mammals, and even garbage.

Where They Live

The oceanic whitetip shark is found throughout the world in tropical and sub-tropical waters.It is a pelagic species, generally remaining offshore in the open ocean, on the outer continental shelf, or around oceanic islands in water depths greater than 600 feet. They live from the surface of the water to at least 498 feet deep. Oceanic whitetip sharks have a strong preference for the surface mixed layer in warm waters above 20°C, and are therefore a surface-dwelling shark.

Lifespan & Reproduction

Oceanic whitetip sharks live up to 19 years, although it is thought that individuals may live to be much older (up to 36 years). Female oceanic whitetip sharks reach maturity between 6 and 9 years of age (depending on geographic location) and give birth to live young after a very lengthy gestation period of 10 to 12 months. The reproductive cycle is thought to be biennial, with sharks giving birth on alternate years to litters ranging from 1 to 14 pups (average of 6). There is also a likely correlation between female size and number of pups per litter, with larger sharks producing more offspring.

Threats

Bycatch

The primary threat to the oceanic whitetip shark is incidental bycatch in commercial fisheries. Because of their preferred distribution in warm, tropical waters, and their tendency to remain at the surface, oceanic whitetip sharks have high encounter and mortality rates in fisheries throughout their range.

Harvest for international trade

Their large, distinct fins are also highly valued in the international shark fin trade.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Chondrichthyes
Order Carcharhiniformes
Family Carcharhinidae
Genus Carcharhinus
Species longimanus

Featured News

750x500-oceanic-whitetip-markings-pifsc.jpg
Feature Story

The Curious Case of a Shark and a Cephalopod

Pacific Islands
Shark And Remora Fish
Feature Story

How Our Shark Finning Ban Helps Us Sustainably Manage Shark Fisheries

New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
Pelagic Blacktip shark in open water .
Feature Story

U.S.-Caught Sharks Are a Sustainable Food Choice

New England/Mid-Atlantic
Southeast
tagged oceanic whitetip shark.jpg
Feature Story

Tagging the Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Southeast
View More News

In the Spotlight

Management Overview

The oceanic whitetip shark is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. It is also listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, Annex II of the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife of the Cartagena Convention (SPAW Protocol), and Annex I of the Sharks Memorandum of Understanding on the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS).

 


Recovery Planning and Implementation

Recovery Action

Under the ESA, NOAA Fisheries is required to develop and implement recovery plans for the conservation and survival of listed species. NOAA Fisheries has developed a recovery outline to serve as an interim guidance document to direct recovery efforts, including recovery planning, for the oceanic whitetip shark until a full recovery plan is developed and approved. The recovery outline presents a preliminary strategy for recovery of the species and recommends high priority actions to stabilize and recover the species.

The major actions recommended in the outline include:

  • Maintain existing U.S. laws and regulations that protect sharks and prohibit retention of oceanic whitetip sharks in pelagic longline fisheries and some recreational fisheries.
  • Improve understanding of bycatch and associated mortality rates (including at-vessel and post-release mortality) in key fisheries, including impacts of various factors such as gear type, hook type and depth, temperature, temporal and spatial fishing effort, interactions with fish aggregating devices, etc. for informing future fisheries management strategies to reduce fisheries interactions and associated mortality.
  • Reduce primary threats (e.g., bycatch-related mortality in commercial fisheries) to prevent further declines in species’ abundance and stabilize populations, including investigating best methods for safe release of oceanic whitetip sharks in longlines.
  • Improve understanding of population distribution, abundance, trends, and structure through research, monitoring, and modeling.
  • Identify and protect key habitat areas, including breeding and nursery grounds through research, monitoring, modeling, and management.
  • Improve understanding of reproductive periodicity and seasonality to inform future management measures for minimizing impacts to the species during key life history functions.
  • Review available information to determine if any countries continue to catch significant amounts of oceanic whitetip shark and/or are involved in the trade of oceanic whitetip fins to prioritize outreach and coordination for improving compliance with RFMO and CITES requirements.
  • Coordinate with relevant Regional Fisheries Management Organizations to improve, where needed, reporting and compliance related to current conservation measures for oceanic whitetip shark to address bycatch mortality.

Recovery Planning Workshops

We held two recovery planning workshops for the oceanic whitetip shark -- one on April 23–24, 2019 in Honolulu, Hawaii, and another on November 13–14, 2019 in Miami, Florida. The purpose of these workshops was to gather information, facts, and perspectives on how to recover the oceanic whitetip shark, including identifying potential recovery criteria and actions to address the threats to the oceanic whitetip shark. Participants included federal and state agencies, scientific experts, commercial  fishermen, conservation partners, and non-governmental organizations.

  • Recovery Planning Workshop Agenda - Honolulu, Hawaii (PDF, 3 page)
  • Recovery Planning Workshop Summary - Honolulu, Hawaii (PDF, 18 pages)
  • Recovery Planning Workshop Agenda - Miami, Florida (PDF, 3 pages)
  • Recovery Planning Workshop Summary - Miami, Florida (PDF, 21 pages)

Recovery Contacts

Kristen Koyama, Oceanic Whitetip Shark Recovery Coordinator

For more information on oceanic whitetip sharks in our regions:
Calusa Horn, Southeast Region
Chelsey Young, Pacific Islands Region

 


Conservation Efforts

At the 2013 meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the Parties agreed to include oceanic whitetip sharks  in Appendix II of CITES, with the listing going into effect on September 14, 2014. The inclusion of oceanic whitetip sharks in CITES Appendix II helps ensure that the international trade for this species is legal and sustainable.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the government agency designated under the Endangered Species Act to carry out the provisions of CITES. NOAA Fisheries provides guidance and scientific support on marine issues given our technical expertise.


Key Actions and Documents

Actions & Documents Incidental Take

Determination on the Designation of Critical Habitat for Oceanic Whitetip Shark

We, NOAA Fisheries, have determined that a designation of critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) is not prudent at this time. Based on a comprehensive review of the best…
  • Notice (85 FR 12898, March 5, 2020)
  • Bibliography for Oceanic Whitetip Shark Critical Habitat Determination
Notice
,
New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
Published
March 5, 2020

Listing the Oceanic Whitetip Shark as Threatened under the Endangered Species Act

In response to a petition by Defenders of Wildlife, we, NMFS, are issuing a final rule to list the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharinus lonigmanus) as threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We have reviewed the status of the oceanic whitetip…
  • Final Rule (83 FR 4153, January 30, 2018)
  • Proposed Threatened Listing (81 FR 96304, December 29, 2016)
  • 90-Day Finding (81 FR 1376, January 12, 2016)
  • ESA Status Review Report: Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)
Final Rule
,
National
Effective
March 1, 2018

More Information

  • Endangered Species Conservation
  • CITES - Sharks and Manta Rays
  • U.S. FWS - Sharks and Rays under CITES

Science Overview

Research & Data

American Samoa Longline Logbook Reports 2019

Logbook summary reports for the 2019 calendar year.
November 10, 2020 - Data Set ,
Pacific Islands

Hawaii and California Longline Logbook Reports 2019

Logbook summary reports for the 2019 calendar year.
September 04, 2020 - Data Set ,
Pacific Islands

Hawaii and California Longline Logbook Reports 2018

Logbook summary reports for the 2018 calendar year.
December 31, 2019 - Data Set ,
Pacific Islands

American Samoa Longline Logbook Reports 2018

Logbook summary reports for the 2018 calendar year.
December 12, 2019 - Data Set ,
Pacific Islands
View More

Recent Science Blogs

Research

Fishermen and Scientists Work Together to Reduce Shark Bycatch in Hawai'i

Research
3848x2886-NOAA-PIFSC-Melanie-Fishing.jpg
View More

Documents

Document

Biological Opinion on the Federally Regulated Oil and Gas Program Activities in the Gulf of Mexico

Programmatic biological opinion on the Gulf of Mexico oil and Gas Program in federal waters.

Southeast
National
Document

Final Biological Opinion on the Continued Authorization for the Hawaii Pelagic Shallow-Set Longline Fishery

NOAA Fisheries biological opinion on the continued operation of the Hawaii shallow-set longline…

Pacific Islands
Document

Oceanic Whitetip Shark Recovery Outline

This document serves as an interim guidance document to direct recovery efforts for the oceanic…

National
Document

Endangered Species Act Status Review Report : Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)

This report was produced in response to a petition received from Defenders of Wildlife on September…

New England/Mid-Atlantic
Pacific Islands
Southeast
West Coast
More Documents

Data & Maps

Data

American Samoa Longline Logbook Reports 2019

Logbook summary reports for the 2019 calendar year.

Pacific Islands
Data

Hawaii and California Longline Logbook Reports 2019

Logbook summary reports for the 2019 calendar year.

Pacific Islands
Data

Hawaii and California Longline Logbook Reports 2018

Logbook summary reports for the 2018 calendar year.

Pacific Islands
Data

American Samoa Longline Logbook Reports 2018

Logbook summary reports for the 2018 calendar year.

Pacific Islands
More Data and Maps

Research

Peer-Reviewed Research

An Encounter Between a Pelagic Shark and Giant Cephalopod

A local photographer observed an oceanic whitetip shark off the coast of Kona, Hawaii, with scars…

Pacific Islands
Peer-Reviewed Research

Apex Predator Publications and Reports – Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Publications and reportsthat include information on the oceanic whitetip shark.

New England/Mid-Atlantic
More Research
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