Tiger Shark
Tiger sharks are one
of the top three sharks implicated in unprovokedfatal attacks throughout
the world. The tiger shark is the leading attack species in Hawaii.
Scientific
name: |
Galeocerdo
cuvier |
Distribution: |
Off
the Atlantic coast of the United States tiger sharks are found from
Cape Cod, Massachusetts, to the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea.
Off the Pacific coast tiger sharks are found from southern California
southward. In the western central Pacific, tiger sharks are found
in the Hawaiian, Solomon, and Marshall Islands. |
Habitat: |
This
sharks inhabits coastal waters close to shore to outer continental
shelf and offshore including oceanic island groups. |
Life
history: |
This
is one of the larger shark species; the largest individuals are believed
to exceed 18 feet and 2,000 lb. Adults mature at approximately 9 feet
and litters are large, often comprising from 35 to 55 pups |
Management:
|
In
the Atlantic, tiger sharks are part of the large coastal shark management
group, which is overfished; commercial and recreational fishing regulations
are in place for this species. In the eastern Pacific, tiger sharks
are not landed in commercial and recreational fisheries and no management
measures are in place for this species. In the western central Pacific,
tiger sharks are landed in commercial and recreational fisheries but
currently there are no management measures in place for this species.
Finning is prohibited. |
Fast Facts About
Sharks
Sharks are vulnerable
to fishing pressure because they:
- Grow slowly
- Take many years
to mature (12 to 18 years in some species)
- Often reproduce
only every other year
- Have few young
per brood (only 2 pups in some species)
- Have specific requirements
for nursery areas (bays and estuaries)
- Are caught in many
types of fishing gear (hook and line, gillnet, trawl)
Sharks have adaptations
allowing them to be apex predators including:
- Teeth that are
replaced throughout their life
- Sensitive smell
receptors
- Eyes that adapt
quickly to low light levels
- Lateral line receptors
that sense movement in the water
- Electroreceptors
that detect electrical fields due to the presence of prey
For
Further Information Contact: (301) 713-2370
|