Mako Sharks Now Protected

Mako populations are not doing well in much of the Atlantic region, including in the Gulf of Mexico in comparison to other shark species.

According to the 2017 stock assessment, shortfin mako sharks are overfished and subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART.
NOAA Southeast Fishery Science Center staff work with the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas to assess the status of shortfin mako sharks in the Atlantic.

Shortfin mako sharks have very pointed snouts and long gill slits.
They have dark blue/gray backs, light metallic blue sides, and white undersides.
Shortfin mako sharks can be differentiated from longfin mako sharks. Compared to shortfin mako sharks, longfin mako sharks have much longer pectoral fins and larger eyes, a different body shape, and the underside of their snout is darker.

Shortfin mako sharks grow slowly, reach up to 13 feet long, and can live to be over 30 years old.
They are not able to reproduce until about 8 years old (~6 feet) for males and 19 years old (~9 feet) for females. They have a 3-year reproductive cycle and a gestation period of approximately 18 months.
Mating occurs from summer to fall. Eggs are fertilized internally and develop inside the mother.
Females bear live pups, which are approximately 2 feet long when born. This large size at birth helps reduce the number of potential predators and enhances the pups’ chance of survival.
Mean litter size is 12, and up to 30 pups have been reported, though scientists have only examined a handful of litters.
Shortfin mako sharks are aggressive predators that feed near the top of the food web on marine fishes such as bluefish, swordfish, tuna, marine mammals, and other sharks.
They have few predators, mainly larger sharks that may prey on smaller shortfin mako sharks.

Off the East Coast, Atlantic shortfin mako sharks are found from New England to Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico from Florida to Texas, and in the Caribbean Sea.
They are highly migratory and can travel across entire oceans.

NOAA Fisheries, through the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division, manage the Atlantic shortfin mako shark fishery in the United States.
NOAA Fisheries implemented regulations consistent with new ICCAT requirements adopted in 2021, based on the 2017 stock assessment.
- As of July 5, 2022, U.S. fishermen may not land or retain Atlantic shortfin mako sharks.
- The shortfin mako shark retention limit is zero in commercial and recreational Atlantic highly migratory species fisheries.
- For more information on makos click here.