The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is the largest predatory fish on Earth, reaching lengths of up to 6 meters and weights exceeding 2,000 kilograms in the largest recorded individuals. It is found in cool, coastal and offshore waters across all major oceans, with notable concentrations around South Africa, southern Australia, and the central California coast. As an apex predator, it regulates the populations of marine mammals, large fish, and sea turtles, and its removal from a food web triggers measurable cascading effects on species several trophic levels below it.
The IUCN Red List classifies the great white shark as Vulnerable, with population trends that remain difficult to quantify precisely due to the species' wide range and low detection rates. The primary threats are incidental capture in commercial longline and gillnet fisheries, targeted fishing for fins and jaws, and the slow reproductive rate that limits population recovery -- females are believed to reach sexual maturity at around 33 years of age and produce relatively small litters after a gestation period estimated at 12 months or longer. Habitat use near coastlines also brings great whites into frequent contact with recreational and commercial fishing gear, compounding pressure on a species that may number only in the low thousands globally.
No projects have listed this species yet. If you run a project that protects the Great White Shark, you can add it to Wildlife Connect.
