Mako Shark: Speed, Physiology, and Conservation

The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is widely recognized as one of the fastest swimming sharks in the ocean, with a streamlined body, specialized vertebral column, and unique skin denticles that together support rapid, energy-efficient locomotion. This article examines the physiological adaptations that enable mako shark speed, reviews current conservation status and threats, and provides practical information for researchers, fisheries observers, and conservation professionals who work with this species. The content draws on peer-reviewed studies of shark skin hydrodynamics, vertebral morphology, electronic tagging effects, and fishery bycatch survival.

At a Glance: Mako Shark Biology and Conservation Status

Taxonomic Context and Species Identification

The shortfin mako belongs to Order Lamniformes, which contains 15 extant shark species that are ecologically diverse and utilize different swimming modes and speeds. The family Lamnidae includes the shortfin mako, porbeagle, and white shark, all of which are fast, athletic sharks that swim using oscillations confined to the caudal body and fin. Other lamniforms, such as the common thresher shark (Alopiidae), sand tiger (Carchariidae), and basking shark (Cetorhinidae), swim via oscillations that begin anteriorly, impacting a greater proportion of the axial body. This distinction matters for fisheries observers and researchers because swimming mode correlates with vertebral morphology, habitat use, and vulnerability to different gear types.

The shortfin mako is the second most fishery-exploited pelagic shark in the Mediterranean Sea, and its conservation status is a cause for concern. Despite listing in fishery and trade regulations intended to hinder population decline, the lack of knowledge on its distribution patterns and habitats essential for persistence still hampers the implementation of sound conservation actions. In the Mediterranean, young-of-the-year makos have been documented in the Pelagie Archipelago, with 21 individuals ranging 71 to 92.5 cm fork length incidentally caught or documented on baited remote underwater videos in July and August over three consecutive years. This represents the most abundant record of young-of-the-year shortfin makos in the Mediterranean Sea within such a restricted time and limited area.

Hydrodynamic Adaptations for Speed

Skin Denticle Structure and Drag Reduction

Shark skin is covered with tooth-like denticles that have varied morphologies, sizes, and densities across the shark's body. These denticles significantly influence the flow and interaction of fluids over the body surface. Research on shark skin properties has examined dermal denticle morphology to understand the functional properties of real shark skin, including mechanical properties such as stiffness, stress-strain characteristics, and the impact of denticle density on tensile properties.

The adaptive capabilities of mako shark scales are especially relevant to high-speed swimming. The scales demonstrate passive flow-actuated dynamic micro-roughness, meaning the denticles can respond to local flow conditions without active muscular control. This passive mechanism allows the skin surface to interact with the boundary layer in ways that reduce drag and improve swimming efficiency. Studies of shark skin have revealed that beyond drag reduction, the skin's structure plays a role in enhancing thrust and lift during locomotion.

For researchers and engineers, the practical implications of denticle research extend to biomimetic applications. Three manufacturing approaches have been examined for replicating shark skin properties: bio-replicated forming, direct fabrication, and indirect manufacturing. Three-dimensional printing and photoconfiguration technology have emerged as promising alternatives for creating synthetic shark skin. The mechanical properties of shark skin fabrics reveal that denticle size impacts tensile strength, stress, and strain, which matters for any attempt to replicate or apply shark skin principles to engineered surfaces.

Vertebral Column Architecture

Swimming oscillations subject the body to repeated bending cycles, including the cartilaginous vertebral column, which serves as the main longitudinal axis of the body. Vertebrae are mineralized with the amount and arrangement varying among species. Three-dimensional analysis of lamniform vertebral morphology and mineral architecture has examined vertebral centra across three body regions (anterior, middle, and posterior) and among six species including the shortfin mako, porbeagle, sand tiger, white, common thresher, and basking shark.

In the lamnids, centra morphometrics are largest in the mid-body and decrease posteriorly, simultaneous with increased counts of lamellae. These trends suggest the middle body region is stabilized while allowing for rapid lateral oscillations at the precaudal pit. Cranio-caudally compressed centra with high quantities of mineral in the mid-body provide the structural foundation for the powerful tail movements that generate thrust. This regional specialization distinguishes fast-swimming lamnids from other lamniforms that use more of the body for undulation.

The vertebral architecture has direct implications for understanding the mechanical limits of mako swimming speed. The stabilization of the mid-body allows the posterior region to oscillate rapidly without excessive energy loss to whole-body bending. This design is analogous to engineering approaches that stiffen the central section of a beam to concentrate flexural movement at the distal end.

Swimming Speed Range and Tagging Effects

Electronic tagging studies have provided data on mako shark swimming speeds and the hydrodynamic consequences of attaching instruments to the animals. Computational fluid dynamics modelling has simulated flow around tagged and untagged mako sharks across their swim speed range, with flow velocities tested from 0.5 to 9.1 meters per second. This range encompasses the typical cruising and burst swimming speeds of the species.

The tagging research revealed that fin-mounted tags can have a significant impact on shark hydrodynamics and energetic balance, increasing drag between 17.6% and 31.2% for a mako shark of 2.95 meters fork length across the range of flow velocities tested. In comparison, the optimal tagging site for archival tags attached to the dorsal musculature leads to a minimal increase in drag for larger sharks over 1.5 meters, but becomes considerable for small sharks of 1 meter fork length, with a 5.1% to 7.6% increase in drag. This drag increase leads to an average energetic cost equivalent to 7% of the daily energetic requirement of an untagged animal.

These findings have practical implications for researchers conducting tagging studies. Recommendations for animal size thresholds above 1.5 meters fork length and refinements of tagging practice have been suggested based on the computational modelling. Tagging can adversely affect the hydrodynamic force balance and welfare of tagged animals, and consequently the reliability and accuracy of data, by increasing drag, altering swimming characteristics, and reducing the survival rate of tagged animals. Researchers should consider tag shape, attachment position, and animal size when designing tagging studies.

Environmental Drivers of Mako Distribution

Marine animals live in a dynamic environment where a wide range of drivers and processes impact their movements and distributions. These processes occur over multiple spatio-temporal scales, from fine-scale phytoplankton blooms and zooplankton patches to larger-scale climatic events such as El Niño or climate change. In a dynamic ocean, the predictability of ocean features and processes varies across multiple scales, and marine animals interact with all these processes.

Electronic tagging data from 265 sharks tagged in the Pacific has been used to investigate the scales of environmental selection of three pelagic shark species: the salmon shark, the blue shark, and the shortfin mako. The study examined an array of spatio-temporal resolutions from 9 kilometers with 1-day resolution to 500 kilometers with climatological resolution, for both Eulerian and Lagrangian variables. While variables at all scales tested had predictive power, the 100 kilometer with 1-year scale best predicted predator locations, indicating that larger-scale, annually averaged signals outperform the other scales in predicting predator location.

For fisheries managers and conservation planners, this finding suggests that mako shark distribution is best predicted by broad oceanographic features that persist over annual timescales instead of ephemeral fine-scale features. Conservation planning that relies on dynamic ocean management should account for the scale at which makos actually perceive and respond to their environment. The predictability of ocean features varies across scales, and species that respond to annual average conditions may be less affected by short-term oceanographic variability than previously assumed.

Population Status and Demographic Vulnerability

Low Productivity and Fishing Mortality Sensitivity

The shortfin mako demonstrates low productivity and is thus relatively sensitive to fishing. Natural mortality and fishing mortality data are critical to determine population dynamics, but catch and fishing effort data are unavailable for this species in the South Pacific Ocean, making stock assessments difficult. Demographic quantitative methods aid in analyzing species with limited data availability.

A two-sex stage-structured matrix population model was used to examine the demographic stock status of mako sharks in the South Pacific. The results revealed that mako shark populations would only be able to sustain a fishing mortality of 20% of natural mortality in the study area. The findings strongly suggest that more conservative management measures should be implemented to ensure sustainable utilization of the mako shark stock. The models may be applicable to other shark species and taxa with limited data availability for preserving their ecological balance and establishing management and conservation measures.

The low productivity of mako sharks means that even modest increases in fishing mortality can have outsized effects on population trajectories. This is compounded by the species' role as a top and middle predator with high ecological value and poor capacity to withstand fishing mortality. The secretive nature of the fin trade, along with the difficulties of obtaining relevant data, obscure the true status of shark populations.

Fishery Indicators and Assessment Limitations

Calls to develop alternative methods of assessing the population status of pelagic shark populations have increased substantially in recent years. An interim solution has been the development of more subjective evaluation of data series through indicator-based analysis instead of predictions from complex stock assessment models. Research has examined the reliability of indicators for predicting population status, specifically whether a population has been overfished, and the fishing pressure, specifically whether overfishing is occurring, of large pelagic sharks based on fishery indicator trends alone.

Simulation of a variety of large pelagic shark populations under different exploitation scenarios using life history parameters and measurable fishery indicators information, including catch-per-unit-effort and average length, showed that the reliability of fishery indicators for establishing population status is dependent upon the length of the time series analyzed. These caveats are critical to the proper evaluation of population trajectories that underlie the most important conservation decisions being made for sharks today.

For fisheries managers, this means that short time series of catch-per-unit-effort or average length data may give misleading signals about population status. Decisions about retention bans, catch limits, or area closures should be based on the longest available time series, and indicator-based assessments should be interpreted with appropriate caution.

Bycatch Survival and Fishery Interactions

At-Vessel and Post-Release Survival

Severe population declines of shortfin mako sharks in the Atlantic Ocean have led to the implementation of conservation measures, notably fishing retention bans and live-release regulations, aimed at substantially reducing fishing mortality to allow stock recovery. While retention bans can eliminate harvest mortality, their effectiveness can be reduced if survival of sharks encountered as bycatch and not retained is low.

Quantification of at-vessel survival and post-release survival has estimated overall bycatch survival probability of mako sharks for the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery. Based on fisheries observer records of 7,821 sharks between 2000 and 2020, at-vessel survival varied regionally from 0.77 in the northernmost observation region to 0.65 in the Gulf of Mexico. Significant negative correlations were found between at-vessel survival and soak time, surface temperature, mainline length, and shark size.

Based on pop-up archival satellite tags deployed from pelagic longline vessels in the western North Atlantic during 2022 to 2024, post-release survival was 0.87. Overall mean bycatch survival probability varied regionally from 0.64 in the northernmost observation region to 0.59 in the Gulf of Mexico. Given the low productivity rates of mako sharks, these survival probabilities may be low enough to hinder recovery efforts if mako sharks are encountered as bycatch in significant numbers.

Regional Variability and Management Implications

The research highlights the importance of quantifying survival regionally and between fleets, as variability in fishing practices and environmental conditions can result in different bycatch survival outcomes. Pairing retention bans with actions that reduce incidence of bycatch would likely provide the greatest benefit to population recovery.

For fisheries managers, the regional variation in bycatch survival means that a single management measure applied uniformly across a large area may not be equally effective everywhere. In regions where at-vessel survival is lower, such as the Gulf of Mexico, additional measures to reduce bycatch incidence or improve handling practices may be needed. In regions where survival is higher, live-release regulations may be more effective.

Discard Practices in Mixed-Species Fisheries

The conservation status of several pelagic shark species is considered vulnerable with declining populations, yet data on shark fishing mortality remain limited for large ocean regions. Pelagic sharks are increasingly retained by mixed-species fisheries, or are discarded and not reported by selective fisheries for tunas or swordfish.

In a South African-flagged pelagic longline fishery with diverse targeting and discard behaviour, approximately 5% of all commercial longlines set during 2015 were sampled by a fisheries-independent observer. The species, discard ratios, and physical condition at discard of 6,019 captured sharks were recorded. Blue sharks and shortfin makos dominated observed shark catches, which were comprised of nine species and two species groups. Some 47% of observed sharks were retained and 20% were discarded in good physical condition. Only 4% of shortfin makos were discarded, compared to 68% of blue sharks.

Blue shark discard mortality rates were twice as high as published at-vessel mortality rates, suggesting that onboard handling, among other factors, contributed to discard mortalities. Extrapolation to total fishing effort indicated a near 10-fold increase in blue shark and shortfin mako fishing mortality compared to an earlier study from 1998 to 2005. Escalating shortfin mako fishing mortality in this fishery demonstrates the need for improved monitoring and management.

Conservation Measures and Trade Regulation

Fin Trade and Market Demand

The market for shark fin soup, a fashionable high-end dish, has resulted in intensive shark fishing across all oceans. At the same time, 90% of teleost fish stocks are over-exploited, making sharks the most lucrative target for fisheries that have not previously hunted them. As top and middle predators, sharks have high ecological value and poor capacity to withstand fishing mortality, but though their numbers are plummeting, the secretive nature of the fin trade, along with the difficulties of obtaining relevant data, obscure their true status.

In consumer countries, shark fin is a luxury item and rich consumers are willing to pay high prices. There is little interest in sustainability or legal trade. Thus market demand will continue to fuel the search for sharks, and those accessible to fishing fleets are increasingly endangered. Current legal protections are not working, as is clearly seen in the case of the shortfin mako. Claims that sharks can withstand targeted, industrial hunting and be sustainably fished under these circumstances are shown to be misguided.

Proposed Trade Protections

In the interests of averting a catastrophic collapse across the planet's aquatic ecosystems, sharks must be given effective protection. Recommendations have been made that all sharks, chimaeras, manta rays, devil rays, and rhino rays be protected from international trade through an immediate CITES Appendix I listing. However, a binding international agreement for protection of sharks and of biodiversity in general is what is most needed to allow marine and freshwater ecosystems to recover.

The expanding shark fin market has resulted in intensive global shark fishing, and with 90% of teleost fish stocks over-exploited, sharks have become the most lucrative target. As predators, they have high ecological value, are sensitive to fishing pressure, and are in decline, but the secretive nature of the fin trade and difficulties obtaining relevant data obscure their true status. Current legal protections are not working, as exemplified by the case of the shortfin mako shark, and claims that sharks can be sustainably fished under these circumstances are shown to be misguided.

Nursery Habitat Protection

The shortfin mako is the second most fishery-exploited pelagic shark in the Mediterranean Sea, and its conservation status is a cause for concern. Despite the species being listed in fishery and trade regulations to hinder its population decline, the lack of knowledge on its distribution patterns and habitats essential for persistence still hampers the implementation of sound conservation actions.

Combining data from local expert knowledge, opportunistic catch records, and baited remote underwater videos has provided evidence of the interannual presence of young-of-the-year shortfin makos in the Pelagie Archipelago in the Central Mediterranean Sea. A total of 21 individuals ranging 71 to 92.5 cm fork length were incidentally caught at an average of 2.3 young-of-the-year per 1,000 hooks or documented on baited remote underwater videos in July and August over three consecutive years. Questionnaires administered to longline fishers identified one specific area used by young-of-the-year in the summer months.

This information provides an important basis for improving the protection of this critically endangered species. Identifying and protecting nursery habitats where young sharks concentrate is a concrete conservation action that can complement fishery management measures. For conservation professionals, the combination of local ecological knowledge, fishery observer data, and non-extractive survey methods such as baited remote underwater videos offers a practical approach to identifying critical habitats in data-limited regions.

Practical Assessment Steps for Researchers and Managers

For professionals working with mako sharks in research or management contexts, the following steps provide a framework for incorporating the available scientific evidence into practice.

Step 1: Verify Species Identification

Confirm that captured or observed sharks are shortfin mako instead of the closely related longfin mako or other lamnid species. Record fork length, sex, and physical condition using standardized protocols. Accurate species identification is essential because management measures may differ between species, and misidentification can bias fishery data.

Step 2: Assess At-Vessel Condition

For fisheries observers, record the physical condition of captured sharks at the time of haulback using a standardized condition scale. Document soak time, surface temperature, mainline length, and shark size, as these factors correlate with at-vessel survival. Sharks captured in warmer surface temperatures, with longer soak times, or on longer mainlines are more likely to be dead or moribund at vessel side.

Step 3: Apply Handling and Release Protocols

For sharks that are alive at vessel side and will be released, minimize time out of water, avoid lifting by the tail or gills, and remove hooks when safe to do so. The post-release survival estimate of 0.87 from pop-up archival satellite tags indicates that most sharks that are alive at release survive, but handling practices can influence outcomes. For small sharks under 1.5 meters fork length, additional care is warranted because they are more susceptible to tagging effects and handling stress.

Step 4: Design Tagging Studies with Hydrodynamic Constraints

Researchers planning electronic tagging studies should select tag types and attachment positions that minimize drag. Fin-mounted tags can increase drag by 17.6% to 31.2% for a 2.95 meter mako, while dorsal musculature attachment is preferable for larger sharks. For sharks under 1.5 meters fork length, the energetic cost of tagging can be considerable, and tagging should be avoided or minimized. The average energetic cost of an optimally placed archival tag is equivalent to 7% of the daily energetic requirement of an untagged animal.

Step 5: Document Environmental Conditions

Record oceanographic conditions at capture and tagging locations, including temperature, chlorophyll concentration, and oceanographic features. The finding that the 100 kilometer with 1-year scale best predicts mako distribution suggests that broad, persistent oceanographic features are more important than ephemeral fine-scale features. This information can inform dynamic management measures and habitat models.

Step 6: Report Data to Management Bodies

Submit catch, bycatch, and tagging data to the relevant regional fisheries management organizations and scientific bodies. The reliability of fishery indicators for establishing population status depends on the length of the time series analyzed, so consistent long-term data collection is essential. Observer coverage and electronic monitoring programs provide the data needed for stock assessments and conservation planning.

Records and Measurements

Standardized records for mako shark research and fishery monitoring should include the following measurements and observations.

Common Failure Patterns in Mako Conservation and Research

Failure to Account for Regional Variability

Management measures applied uniformly across large areas may fail because bycatch survival varies regionally. At-vessel survival ranges from 0.77 in the northernmost observation region to 0.65 in the Gulf of Mexico, and overall bycatch survival ranges from 0.64 to 0.59 across regions. A retention ban that is effective in one region may be insufficient in another where survival is lower.

Overreliance on Short Time Series

Fishery indicators such as catch-per-unit-effort and average length are unreliable for determining population status when time series are short. Management decisions based on a few years of data may produce false signals about population trends. Long-term monitoring programs are essential for accurate assessment.

Ignoring Tagging Effects

Researchers who attach tags without considering hydrodynamic consequences may obtain biased data and harm the animals. Fin-mounted tags can increase drag by up to 31.2%, altering swimming behavior and energetic balance. Tagging small sharks under 1.5 meters fork length imposes a considerable energetic cost that may affect survival.

Assuming Retention Bans Are Sufficient

Retention bans eliminate harvest mortality but do not address bycatch mortality. If sharks die after being discarded, the conservation benefit of a retention ban is reduced. Overall bycatch survival probabilities of 0.59 to 0.64 may be too low to allow population recovery if bycatch encounters are frequent.

Neglecting Nursery Habitat Protection

Fishery management measures alone may be insufficient to protect young-of-the-year sharks that concentrate in specific nursery areas. The identification of a consistent summer nursery area in the Pelagie Archipelago demonstrates that habitat protection can complement fishery regulations. Without protecting essential habitats, population recovery may be limited even with effective fishing mortality reductions.

Limitations of Current Knowledge

Several important knowledge gaps limit the ability to manage mako shark populations effectively. Catch and fishing effort data are unavailable for the South Pacific Ocean, making stock assessments difficult. Demographic models can provide interim guidance, but they rely on assumptions about life history parameters that may not be accurate for all regions.

The hydrodynamic effects of tagging have been studied through computational fluid dynamics, but live shark testing is identified as a future research direction. The models provide useful guidance for tag selection and placement, but direct measurements of tagged shark behavior and energetics would strengthen the recommendations.

Fishery indicator reliability depends on the length of the time series analyzed, and many regions lack the long-term data needed for confident assessment. The secretive nature of the fin trade and difficulties obtaining relevant data obscure the true status of shark populations, complicating efforts to evaluate the effectiveness of trade regulations.

Bycatch survival estimates are available for the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery, but comparable data are lacking for many other fisheries and regions. The South African-flagged fishery study demonstrated a near 10-fold increase in shortfin mako fishing mortality compared to an earlier period, but similar analyses have not been conducted for all fleets that encounter makos.

Welfare and Safety Context

The welfare of captured mako sharks is directly relevant to conservation outcomes. Sharks that are alive at vessel side and released in good condition have a post-release survival probability of 0.87, but this estimate comes from a limited sample of 27 tagged sharks. Factors that reduce at-vessel survival, including long soak times, warm surface temperatures, and large mainline lengths, also have welfare implications for the animals.

For fisheries observers and crew, handling large pelagic sharks presents safety risks. Mako sharks are powerful animals capable of rapid movement, and their teeth and rough skin can cause serious injuries. Safe handling protocols should prioritize both human safety and animal welfare. Minimizing time out of water, avoiding stressful handling practices, and releasing sharks promptly when they will not be retained are consistent with both welfare and safety objectives.

Researchers conducting tagging studies should consider the welfare implications of their work. Tagging can adversely affect the hydrodynamic force balance and welfare of tagged animals, and consequently the reliability and accuracy of data. The recommendation for animal size thresholds above 1.5 meters fork length for dorsal musculature attachment reflects both welfare and data quality considerations.

Professional Escalation Criteria

Professionals working with mako sharks should escalate concerns to appropriate authorities or experts under the following circumstances.

Suspected Misidentification

If there is uncertainty about whether a captured shark is a shortfin mako or a longfin mako, or if unusual morphological characteristics are observed, consult a taxonomic expert or regional fisheries science body. Misidentification can lead to incorrect data and inappropriate management responses.

Unusual Mortality Events

If large numbers of dead mako sharks are observed in a fishery or region, or if at-vessel survival appears to be declining, report the observation to the relevant fisheries management organization. Unusual mortality events may indicate changes in fishing practices, environmental conditions, or population status that require investigation.

Tagging Complications

If a tagged shark is recaptured or observed with signs of poor healing, infection, or abnormal behavior at the tagging site, report the observation to the tagging program coordinator. Tagging complications can indicate that attachment methods need refinement or that certain tag types or positions are unsuitable.

Evidence of Non-Compliance

If fishery observers or enforcement personnel observe retention of mako sharks in fisheries where retention is banned, or evidence of finning, report the observation through appropriate enforcement channels. Non-compliance undermines conservation measures and should be documented and addressed.

New Information on Nursery Areas

If young-of-the-year mako sharks are observed in areas not previously documented as nursery habitat, report the observation to regional conservation bodies. Identifying additional nursery areas can inform habitat protection measures and improve conservation outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

How fast can a mako shark swim?

The shortfin mako is considered one of the fastest sharks, with computational fluid dynamics studies simulating flow around tagged and untagged mako sharks across a swim speed range of 0.5 to 9.1 meters per second. The upper end of this range represents burst swimming speeds during attacks or escapes. The hydrodynamic adaptations that support these speeds include specialized skin denticles that reduce drag and a vertebral column that stabilizes the mid-body while allowing rapid tail oscillations.

What makes mako sharks so fast compared to other sharks?

Mako sharks combine several adaptations for speed. Their skin denticles have passive flow-actuated dynamic micro-roughness that reduces drag and may enhance thrust. Their vertebral centra are cranio-caudally compressed with high quantities of mineral in the mid-body, stabilizing the middle region while allowing rapid lateral oscillations at the precaudal pit. Unlike thresher or basking sharks that use more anterior body undulations, lamnids like the mako confine oscillations to the caudal body and fin, which is more efficient at high speeds.

Why are mako sharks endangered?

Mako sharks have low productivity and are sensitive to fishing mortality. Demographic analysis in the South Pacific found that populations could only sustain a fishing mortality of 20% of natural mortality. The expanding shark fin market has resulted in intensive global shark fishing, and current legal protections are not working, as seen in the case of the shortfin mako. Bycatch survival probabilities of 0.59 to 0.64 in some regions may be too low to allow population recovery.

What is being done to conserve mako sharks?

Conservation measures include fishing retention bans and live-release regulations in the Atlantic Ocean, listing in fishery and trade regulations in the Mediterranean, and recommendations for CITES Appendix I listing for all sharks. Research on bycatch survival, nursery habitat identification, and fishery indicators supports management decisions. Pairing retention bans with actions that reduce bycatch incidence would likely provide the greatest benefit to population recovery.

How does tagging affect mako sharks?

Tagging can adversely affect the hydrodynamic force balance and welfare of tagged animals. Fin-mounted tags can increase drag by 17.6% to 31.2% for a 2.95 meter mako, while dorsal musculature attachment minimizes drag for sharks over 1.5 meters. For small sharks of 1 meter fork length, drag increases of 5.1% to 7.6% lead to an average energetic cost equivalent to 7% of daily energetic requirements. Researchers should follow size thresholds and tagging practice recommendations.

What factors affect mako shark survival after bycatch?

At-vessel survival varies regionally from 0.77 in the northernmost observation region to 0.65 in the Gulf of Mexico. Significant negative correlations exist between at-vessel survival and soak time, surface temperature, mainline length, and shark size. Post-release survival is 0.87 based on satellite tagging. Overall bycatch survival probability varies regionally from 0.64 to 0.59, which may be too low to allow recovery if bycatch encounters are frequent.

Where do young mako sharks live?

Young-of-the-year shortfin makos have been documented in the Pelagie Archipelago in the Central Mediterranean Sea, with 21 individuals ranging 71 to 92.5 cm fork length observed in July and August over three consecutive years. This represents the most abundant record of young-of-the-year shortfin makos in the Mediterranean within a restricted time and limited area. Longline fisher questionnaires identified

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References and Further Reading

• NCBI Literature Resources. National Center for Biotechnology Information.
• PubMed. National Library of Medicine.
• Characterization of shark skin properties and biomimetic replication.. Bioinspiration & biomimetics, 2024.
• Skeletons of swiftly swimming sharks: Three-dimensional analysis of lamniform vertebral morphology and mineral architecture.. Journal of anatomy, 2026.
• Refining Electronic Tagging of Marine Animals: Computational Fluid Dynamics and Pelagic Sharks.. 2025.
• Bycatch survival of shortfin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the U.S. Atlantic pelagic longline fishery.. 2025.
• The role of oceanographic scales in shaping highly mobile marine predator distributions.. 2025.
• Demographic Analysis of Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the South Pacific Ocean. Animals, 2022.
• Shark conservation: Analysis and synthesis. 2022.
• Shark Fishing vs. Conservation: Analysis and Synthesis. Sustainability, 2022.
• Can the status of pelagic shark populations be determined using simple fishery indicators?. Biological Conservation, 2018.
• Commercial Fishery Catch Characteristics and Population Assessment of the Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Western North Atlantic Ocean. 2013.
• Multiple interannual records of young-of-the-year identify an important area for the protection of the shortfin mako, Isurus oxyrinchus.. Marine Environmental Research, 2023.
• Shark discards in selective and mixed-species pelagic longline fisheries. PLoS ONE, 2020.
• Compilation of information on blue shark (Prionace glauca), silky shark (Carcharhinus falciformis), oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) and shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus) in the Indian Ocean. 2007.
• Comparative Analysis of Different Profiles of Riblets on an Airfoil using Large Eddy Simulations. IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings, 2023.

This article is educational and does not replace institutional policy, professional advice, or applicable safety and regulatory requirements.