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Endangered Animals: Mako Shark

Many species of shark appear on the endangered list, mainly because they are slow to reproduce and their populations cannot cope with much hunting. In fact, only a quarter of all shark species are known to be under no threat at all. Shark species in trouble include mako sharks, two species of open ocean sharks. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists both the longfin mako and the shortfin mako as "Vulnerable" on its "Red List" of endangered species.

Longfin Mako
- The longfin mako is a large oceanic shark that, like other large sharks, matures and reproduces slowly. Females give birth to live young rather than lay eggs. They only have a few pups at a time, sometimes only two. Longfin mako seem to be widely distributed in warmer waters, but distribution data on this species is limited, partly because it looks very much like the shortfin mako and identification errors are common. Information on other aspects of its ecology and behavior is also short; biologists don't even know, as of 2011, when the shark matures, how long it lives or where they breed.
Shortfin Mako
- The shortfin mako is a slightly better-known shark, also widely distributed in warm ocean waters, especially the Mediterranean and Western Atlantic. The Eastern North Atlantic appears to be a nursery area. This species is possibly the fastest shark in the world and, unusual for a fish, is endothermic, meaning it can keep its body temperature higher than the surrounding water. Despite this characteristic, it doesn't inhabit waters cooler than about 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Threats
- There are two direct reasons the two mako species are threatened. Some are taken deliberately for their fins, for the shark fin soup market. Shortfin makos in particular are a target species for their fins and meat. Commercial fishing operations also kill a huge number accidentally, as bycatch. This means the sharks are not the target species, but they are caught accidentally. A precise figure on how many sharks are killed this way is difficult to obtain, because most are thrown back into the water. Fishery operations are believed to underreport the animals killed this way. Both species have seen sharp declines in numbers. Other threats to mako sharks apply to all marine life. These include pollution, overfishing of their food supplies, plastic litter and climate change.
Protection
- Migratory oceanic species, such as mako sharks, need international collaboration on conservation, if protection efforts are to stand any chance of success. Specific measures these species need are the banning of shark finning and adjustments to large-scale fishing methods. Drastic reduction of plastic and chemical pollution is a necessary habitat conservation measure that even individuals can assist with, although governments and corporations have the power to make more far-reaching changes.

Animals & Science