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Oceanic whitetip shark 101. Oceanic whitetip sharks can grow to a length of 11 feet and are strong swimmers, capable of deep sea dives. They occupy areas past the world’s continental shelves, swimming near the surface to take advantage of warmer waters. While they can live to be 25 years old, reproductive females do not mature until they are between 6 and 9.
Though slow-moving, the shark is opportunistic and aggressive, and is reputed to be dangerous to shipwreck survivors. The IUCN Red List considers the species to be critically endangered. Recent studies show steeply declining populations as they are harvested for their fins and meat.
Scuba pioneer Jacques Cousteau once called the oceanic whitetip “the most dangerous of all sharks,” but divers with extensive shark experience tend to have a more nuanced take on the species.
Unlike the hammerhead, the oceanic white-tip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) is aggressive towards humans. It has been noted as a danger toward those stranded at sea, and is very powerful during feeding frenzies.
The main threat to oceanic whitetip sharks is bycatch in commercial fisheries combined with demand for its fins. 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.
Losing a top predator like the oceanic whitetip shark can disrupt the delicate balance of food chains that keep our ocean healthy and thriving. Take action today with Ocean Conservancy to help protect endangered and threatened species like the oceanic whitetip shark.
Oceanic whitetips used to be among the three most abundant shark species, but now their populations are dwindling. Decreasing numbers spell trouble for the entire ocean ecosystem—removing a top predator like them can have serious ripple effects on their prey and other ocean creatures in the food web.
MarineBio considers this shark the most potentially dangerous after great whites, tiger, and bull sharks, especially for open-ocean divers. This species is likely responsible for open-ocean attacks following air or sea disasters. Oceanic whitetips can be very aggressive and unpredictable in the presence of potential prey.
However, in recent years, the oceanic whitetip shark has faced a significant decline in numbers, becoming a vanishing predator in our seas. In this article, we explore the remarkable world of the oceanic whitetip shark and the challenges it now faces.
When fended off, an Oceanic whitetip shark often returns, circles and approaches again. Its opportunistic feeding habits, heavy build, strong jaws and teeth, and its stubborn aggressiveness indicate that it should be treated with caution.