Conservation status

White sharks are fully protected in South Africa and no white shark may be killed or harmed intentionally. They are listed as Vulnerable on the Redlist of Threatened Species and on CITES II which prohibits international trade in white shark products like teeth, jaws and fins. However, poaching, caught as bycatch, pollution and shark nets are threats still very real for these sharks.

Research

South Africa’s white shark is well studied compared to other sharks. However, vital information on population size, reproductive biology and ecology are still extremely limited and long term research is essential. The Save Our Seas Shark Centre together with the University of Cape Town and Marine and Coastal Management currently run a large research programme in Cape Town. To read more about this research please visit Save Our Seas Foundation.