Great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias).
Image: Bernard DUPONT from FRANCE, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Trend unknown
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The great white shark is a large, powerful predatory fish found in temperate and subtropical seas worldwide. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
It is slow-growing and late-maturing, which makes its populations slow to recover from losses.
Range & habitat
Coastal and offshore temperate and subtropical seas around the world.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Targeted and incidental fishing
- Bycatch in other fisheries
- Demand for jaws, teeth, and fins
Why it matters
As an apex predator, the great white helps shape marine communities; its slow life history also makes it sensitive to fishing pressure.
Gallery
A great white shark — Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Image: Godot13, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Great White Shark
- IUCN Red List — look up Great White Shark (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the great white shark Vulnerable?
Are great white sharks common?
Last updated: