If You Catch ‘em Alive, Let ‘em Live

Overfishing is occurring on the population of shortfin mako sharks in the North Atlantic Ocean. This means that shortfin mako sharks are being caught and retained at a rate that could be damaging to the long-term sustainability of the population. If you catch a shortfin mako shark that is in good condition, release it alive to reduce the number of sharks that are removed from the population. By doing this, you can help maintain a healthy shortfin mako population for future generations.

When releasing any shark, try to follow these steps to maximize their chance of survival and minimize injury if you can safely do so:

• Use non-stainless steel circle hooks.
• Do not remove the shark from the water.
• Do not gaff the shark.
• Remove the hook from the shark using a de-hooking device, if you can do it safely.
• If you cannot remove the hook, cut the line as close to the hook as you can while being safe.
• If you can, tag them (learn how)

And remember, as always when dealing with sharks, safety first!

Download the NMFS Careful Catch brochure for more safe handling and release information.

Strong recreational and commercial fisheries rely on thriving fish populations. If shortfin mako sharks become overfished, regulations may be necessary to limit the commercial and recreational fishing in order for the population to recover. Releasing a shortfin mako today may help keep the population and fishery strong for years to come.

Put your mako on the map!

Release a shortfin mako.

Submit shortfin mako shark catch and release information and become a part of our interactive web map.

Shortfin Mako Shark Live Release Map

Release Mako Android App

Remember: A legal shark is not necessarily
a mature shark

Shortfin mako sharks are slow growing, long-lived sharks, and removing immature individuals may have detrimental effects on the overall population level. Both male and female shortfin mako sharks reach sexual maturity at sizes much larger than the current recreational minimum size of 54 inches fork length (FL). There is no size limit on shortfin mako sharks in the commercial fishery. But keep in mind that both male and female shortfin mako sharks become mature at lengths greater than the recreational minimum size (54 inches FL).

Mature Males: 73 inches FL; 153 pounds whole weight;
8 years old

Mature Females: 108 inches FL; 525 pounds whole weight; 18 years old

Currently, overfishing is occurring in the North Atlantic according to the 2008 ICCAT stock assessment (click here for more stock assessment info). You can help contribute to ending overfishing on the North Atlantic shortfin mako shark stock by releasing live immature shortfin makos and only keeping mature individuals who have had the chance to reproduce.

Do your part to help the shortfin mako shark population by releasing immature sharks that are caught alive and are in good condition. To calculate shortfin mako shark length / weight conversions, please visit the Northeast Fishery Science Center website at: http://na.nefsc.noaa.gov/sharks/calc.html

Shortfin Mako Shark Information

Click the links below to learn more about the North Atlantic population of shortfin mako sharks

•  Current Stock Status and Situation

•  Life History and Essential Fish Habitat

•  Tagging Programs

•  Shortfin Mako Live Release Map

Become seafood savvy and learn more about Atlantic shortfin mako shark by going to the NOAA FishWatch webpage

Spread the Word

Spread the word about releasing shortfin mako sharks and Atlantic HMS regulations by downloading and distributing HMS Outreach Materials. You can also request these outreach materials by calling the HMS Management Division at 301-713-2347 or by emailing a request to shortfinmako@noaa.gov

• Shortfin Mako Information Card
• Shortfin Mako Post Card
• Careful Catch and Release Brochure
• Commercial and Recreational HMS Compliance Guides
• Recreational Shark Placard
• NOAA Fisheries Cooperative Shark Tagging Program Brochure

Frequently Asked Questions

Am I required to release shortfin mako sharks?

Recreational and commercial fishermen may retain shortfin mako sharks specified by the recreational and commercial size and bag limits (see below). However, based on the 2008 SCRS stock assessment on the North Atlantic stock of shortfin mako sharks, the population is experiencing overfishing and approaching an overfished status. As such, NMFS encourages, through the NMFS's Shortfin Mako Live Release Website, all commercial and recreational fishermen to release all shortfin mako sharks that come to the vessel alive in order to decrease fishing mortality, helping prevent the shortfin mako shark population from becoming overfished.

What are the recreational size and bag limits for shortfin mako sharks?

Vessels that hold an HMS Angling or Charter/Headboat permit may recreationally retain 1 shortfin mako shark greater than 54 inches fork length (FL) per trip. Although anglers can legally retain a 54 inch shortfin mako shark, both male and female shortfin mako sharks reach sexual maturity at sizes larger than 54 inches FL (73 and 108 in FL, respectively). Therefore, keeping a shotfin mako shark that is smaller than its size-at-maturity means that it most likely didn't get a chance to reproduce and contribute to the shortfin mako shark population. Find out more information under the What's Legal tab.

What are the commercial size and bag limits for shortfin mako sharks?

There is no shortfin mako shark trip limit for commercial vessels that hold a Federal Atlantic Directed shark limited access permit. Commercial vessels that hold a Federal Atlantic Incidental shark limited access permit can keep up to a total of 16 pelagic or small coastal sharks (all species combined), meaning they could retain a maximum of 16 shortfin mako sharks if no other pelagic or small coastal sharks were retained. There is no commercial minimum size limit for shortfin mako sharks. Find out more about shortfin mako sizes under the What's Legal tab.

How can I identify a shortfin mako shark?

The shortfin mako shark has a conical pointed snout, and long smooth-edged teeth. Its coloration is deep blue above, soft metallic blue on the sides, and white along the underside of the snout, mouth, and body. It has one caudal keel, and the first dorsal fin originates behind the trailing edge of the pectoral fins. Shortfin mako sharks in the Atlantic could be confused with other pelagic sharks like the longfin mako and porbeagle or with the white shark. The following are some key characteristis that will help you tell the difference between some sharks that shortfin makos could be confused with.

White: White sharks have distinctive large triangular serrated teeth. Their snout is also more blunt than a shortfin mako's.

Porbeagle: Porbeagle sharks have a secondary caudal keel, and have teeth with lateral cusplets, while shortfin makos only have one caudal keel and no lateral cusplets. They also have a distinct white marking on the rear edge of the first dorsal fin.

Longfin mako: Longfin mako sharks are very similar to shortfin makos but, as their name suggests, they have much longer pectoral fins. They also have larger eyes than shortfin makos, and the area on their snout is darker (dusky or bluish-black compared to white) than the same area on shortfin makos.

For more help with shark identification, download the Recreational Atlantic HMS Shark ID Placard, or contact the Atlantic HMS Management Division at 301-713-2347 to request a waterproof hard copy of the placard.