Mako sharks have fascinated divers and shark fans for many years. But having recently been listed as endangered, will we still be able to dive with them in years to come? And more importantly, what will happen if we lost these vital apex predators for good?

Are mako sharks endangered?

The Shark Specialist Group of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has recently announced that both the Shortfin and Longfin Mako shark are now classified as Endangered.

Previously listed as Vulnerable, they have been downgraded to Endangered and are now officially at risk of going extinct.

Does it matter if mako sharks go extinct?

As an apex predator, mako sharks play a vital role in sustaining the health of ocean ecosystems.

They are one of the most efficient hunters of all shark species and eat mostly bony fish such as tuna, mackerel, swordfish, plus cephalopods, other sharks, porpoises, sea turtles and sea birds. 

They control the populations of those species they feed on – ensuring ocean food webs remain in balance and no single population gets out of control. 

Apex predators also feed on vulnerable prey, such as old, injured and sick animals; which leaves more food for the healthy prey animals to survive on. 

What happens when you remove apex predators, such as makos, from the ocean?

Prey populations explode in numbers when you remove apex predators such as mako sharks. As those prey populations increase unchecked, the prey animals they feed upon then decrease and eventually collapse. 

What happens then? The prey populations that boomed in the first place have nothing to feed on and also eventually collapse. 

In short, oceanic food webs collapse and ocean biodiversity is lost. 

Apex predators prevent that cycle from occurring by keeping prey numbers balanced and under control at all times. They improve the health of ocean ecosystems and ensure marine biodiversity is sustained for all.

Is it too late to save mako sharks?

If we act now, it is not too late to save mako sharks. The latest news on mako shark conservation is cause for hope:

• The EU is facing pressure to announce catch quotas for mako sharks in its waters.

• Numerous sharks and rays, including makos, are being proposed for listing at the next meeting of the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in late May 2019.

Help protect sharks from extinction with two simple lifestyle changes:

• Don’t purchase products made from sharks.

• Use sustainable seafood guides online to ensure the fish you eat doesn’t have bycatch*

*Bycatch commonly includes sharks and marine mammals.