Whitenose Shark

About the Whitenose Shark

Whitenose Sharks are found in tropical waters between 15 m to 200 m underwater, but they are uncommon to spot in their habitat in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from Baja California to Mexico and the Gulf of California to Peru. They are primarily inshore sharks that swim at depths less than 24 m, but they can still be found even further offshore at 192 m.

Biology and Behaviour:

Whitenose Sharks have slender bodies with a long conical snout. They are brown-grey with metallic hues on their dorsal fins and have a white underside. Their second dorsal has a dusky tup and their anal fin is a bit larger than their second dorsal fin.  

Reproduction and Lifespan:

Whitenose Sharks are viviparous with five to six pups in a litter and their birth size is around 53 cm. They can grow to a length of 150 cm. 

Conservation and Tourism:

The IUCN lists Whitenose Sharks as data deficient because of insufficient data and there is no specific conservation or management for Whitenose Sharks.

However, in Nicaragua, finning is regulated for all shark species, and in Mexico, shark fisheries are controlled through a permit program. In Ecuador, finning and fishing in the protected zone of the Galapagos Marine Resources Reserve are prohibited, but illegal fishing still occurs. Fishermen in Ecuador are required to record information on their fishing trips. In South Africa, fishermen are required to obtain information on catches where little to no information is known about the shark.

Do you have images or videos of Whitenose Sharks?
Submit them to [email protected].