The tope shark is a highly migratory species with a wide range. In U.S. waters, the tope shark is found along the Pacific Coast from Washington and Oregon down through California.
Worldwide, they inhabit six distinct regions:
- Northeast Pacific (U.S. Pacific Coast)
- Southeast Pacific (Ecuador to Chile)
- Southwest Atlantic (Brazil to Patagonia)
- Northeast Atlantic (extends from the North Sea and UK waters into the Mediterranean Sea and southward to northwest Africa)
- Southern Africa (Namibia to South Africa)
- the Southwest Pacific (Australia and New Zealand)
Currently, the Southwest Atlantic and the Southern Africa distinct population segments (DPSs) are proposed for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Learn more about the proposed listing.
