ABOUT THE ANIMAL: The oceanic whitetip shark is found in subtropical and tropical oceans. Though they inhabit offshore areas of deep water, they stay fairly close to the ocean surface. They get the name “whitetip” shark from the mottled white patches on the tips of their fins. Whitetip sharks are at the top of the food chain with a diet consisting of bony fishes, turtles, seabirds, and marine mammals. 

ABOUT THE PROBLEM: Sharks generally have a bad reputation. The whitetip shark is one of few species of sharks known to harm humans; and even then, these rare incidents are likely a case of mistaken identity. Whitetip sharks face an immense threat as bycatch from the commercial fishing industry combined with demand for its fins. The recent and rapid decline in sharks puts them at risk of extinction. For instance, the population of whitetip sharks in the Gulf of Mexico has decreased approximately 88% since the mid 1990s. If you take into consideration the late age of maturity for sharks, this species will likely not be able to recover population numbers. 

ABOUT THE SOLUTION: Action needs to be taken through advocacy and legal groups to protect whitetip and other species of sharks.