Annex 2

Relevant Biological, Ecological and Fisheries/Trade Data for Great White sharks Carcharodon carcharias Linnaeus 1758

1. Life History Parameters

Size: Mature individuals range from 3–9 metres, 1,200+ kg weight.

Age of maturity: ~10 years.

Maximum lifespan: ~40 years.

Fecundity: Ovoviviparous. 2–14 young per female, gestation period exceeding 12 months. Offspring are large and well developed at birth (1.5–2 m in length). Breeding rate is low – few females have been observed to be pregnant.

Survival rates: High, but largely unknown.

Food sources: A major marine predator. Food items include fish (mackerel, tuna etc.), marine mammals (especially seals) and seabirds.

Habitat: Coastal and offshore pelagic areas.

Distribution and abundance: Cosmopolitan distribution, found in both temperate and tropical climates, though more abundant in the former. As an apex predator, it is naturally rare relative to other fish. Data on absolute abundance in extremely limited (FAO fact sheet). Pronounced periodicity in abundance occurs in some areas, apparently correlated with temperature and life stage (Cliff et al. 1996).

Movement patterns: Capable of swimming long distances (up to 190 km in 2.5 days; C. carcharias proposal). Tends to be territorial, with a high degree of sight attachment.

Other: Generally solitary.

Products in trade: Fins, jaws, teeth.

Use of products: Fins are reportedly for trade in Hong Kong, Singapore and Liberia, but trade volumes are unknown (C. carcharias proposal). Jaws and teeth are sold as curio items, and reportedly can fetch up to $US 10,000.

Impact of past fisheries: The majority of captures are made incidentally, through commercial fisheries operating longlines, setlines, gillnets and trawls, and this appears to be the main source of mortality (SSG 1996). C. carcharias is rarely represented in the elasmobranch by-catch of offshore pelagic fisheries (FAO fact sheet). It was important as a big-game sports fish in some parts of Australia and the USA, but national legislation has since limited this take. Gamefish records operating from boats offshore indicate catch rates have declined in Australia (Pepperell 1992). However, this may be due to changes in behavior, as the sharks move further offshore because there is less targeting of C. carcharias in these areas compared to earlier decades. Cliff et al. (1996) record a decline in C. carcharias numbers of South Africa from 1973–1993, but noted that the biological significance of this was uncertain, and may have been a sampling artifact.

Locations of current fisheries: Nowhere sufficiently abundant to support a directed fishery. Threatened by by-catch mortality, sports angling and some coastal fisheries to supply international trade in curio items such as teeth and jaws.

Other threats: Killed in beach netting programmes in Australia and South Africa. Young animals often tangle in fishing gear. The tendency of C. carcharias to investigate human activities makes it vulnerable to trophy hunters. Tuna fisheries may affect C. carcharias densities, as Tuna are a major food source (a threat due to declining prey abundance).

Protection: Legally protected in southern Australia, Israel, Maldives, Namibia, South Africa, and the US Pacific coast. It is the most widely protected shark species in the world (FAO fact sheet). Anecdotal claims have been made that the species is increasing in areas where seals have been protected.