SHARK INFO: CURRENT STATUS OF COMMONLY CAUGHT SPECIES

Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

Species Summary - Lower Risk / Near Threatened

This large omnivorous shark is common world-wide in tropical and warm-temperate coastal waters. It is a relatively fast growing and fecund species, and caught regularly in target and non-target fisheries. There is evidence of declines for several populations where they have been heavily fished. Continued demand, especially for the valuable fins, may result in further declines in the future, but this species can withstand a higher level of fishing activity than many other species of shark. Additionally, juvenile survivorship increases where adult tiger shark populations have been depleted by fisheries and predation of young is lessened. Source

IUCN Redlist Status

Lower Risk / Near Threatened
Source

FishWatch Status

Unlisted / No data available

Major Threat(s)

The species has a very low reproductive potential (late maturity and small litter size) and high vulnerability to target and bycatch fisheries (commercial and recreational), some of which supply high-value products (fins, jaws and teeth) for international trade. The meat is utilized fresh, dried salted, and smoked for human consumption, and liver oil is extracted for vitamins, while the carcass may be used for fishmeal, the skin for leather, the fins for shark-fin soup, and the teeth and jaws for decorations (Compagno 1984).

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