At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The oceanic whitetip is a wide-ranging open-ocean shark with distinctive rounded, white-tipped fins. It is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Once among the most abundant large open-ocean predators, it has declined steeply.
Range & habitat
Open tropical and subtropical oceans worldwide.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Overfishing and the fin trade
- Bycatch
Why it matters
A formerly abundant high-seas predator now in steep decline, the oceanic whitetip is a stark example of how fishing has transformed open-ocean ecosystems.
Sources
Sources for Oceanic Whitetip Shark
- IUCN Red List — look up Oceanic Whitetip Shark (authoritative status)
- NOAA Fisheries
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you recognise an oceanic whitetip shark?
By its long, rounded pectoral and dorsal fins with mottled white tips, and its open-ocean lifestyle far from coasts.
Why is the oceanic whitetip Critically Endangered?
Published assessments cite overfishing — including high demand for its large fins — and bycatch, which have caused dramatic declines. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: