Editing Great white shark (section)

== Conservation status ==
It is unclear how much of a concurrent increase in fishing for great white sharks has caused the decline of great white shark populations from the 1970s to the present. No accurate global population numbers are available, but the great white shark is now considered [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]] worldwide,<ref name="iucn" /> and [[critically endangered]] in Europe<ref name="IUCN – Europe" /> and the [[Mediterranean]].<ref name="IUCN – Mediterranean">{{cite iucn |author=Soldo, A. |author2=Bradai, M.N. |author3=Walls, R.H.L. |year=2016 |title=''Carcharodon carcharias'' (Mediterranean assessment) |volume=2016 |page=e.T3855A16527829 |doi= |access-date=22 January 2025}}</ref> Sharks taken during the long interval between birth and sexual maturity never reproduce, making population recovery and growth difficult.<ref name="livescience.com" />

The [[International Union for Conservation of Nature]] notes that very little is known about the actual status of the great white shark, but as it appears uncommon compared to other widely distributed species, it is considered vulnerable.<ref name="iucn" /> It is included in Appendix II of [[CITES]],<ref name=CITES /> meaning that international trade in the species (including parts and derivatives) requires a permit.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.shtml#IV |title=Regulation of Trade in Specimens of Species Included in Appendix II |publisher=CITES (1973)|access-date=8 April 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717182355/http://www.cites.org/eng/disc/text.shtml#IV |archive-date=17 July 2011}}</ref> As of March 2010, it has also been included in Annex I of the [[Bonn Convention|CMS]] [[Migratory Sharks MoU]], which strives for increased international understanding and coordination for the protection of certain migratory sharks.<ref>{{cite web |title=Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks |url=http://www.cms.int/species/sharks/MoU/Migratory_Shark_MoU_Eng.pdf |access-date=31 August 2012 |publisher=Convention on Migratory Species |date=12 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420171816/http://www.cms.int/species/sharks/MoU/Migratory_Shark_MoU_Eng.pdf |archive-date=20 April 2013}}</ref> A February 2010 study by [[Barbara Block]] of [[Stanford University]] estimated the world population of great white sharks to be lower than 3,500 individuals, making the species more vulnerable to extinction than the [[tiger]], whose population is in the same range.<ref>{{cite news |title=Great white shark is more endangered than tiger, claims scientist |author=Sample, Ian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/feb/19/great-white-shark-endangered-tiger |newspaper=The Guardian |date=19 February 2010 |access-date=14 August 2013 |archive-date=9 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130909112607/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2010/feb/19/great-white-shark-endangered-tiger |url-status=live}}</ref> According to another study from 2014 by [[George H. Burgess]], [[Florida Museum of Natural History]], [[University of Florida]], there are about 2,000 great white sharks near the California coast, which is 10 times higher than the previous estimate of 219 by [[Barbara Block]].<ref name="time.com">{{cite magazine |last1=Jenkins |first1=P. Nash |title=Beachgoers Beware: The Great White Shark Population Is Growing Again |url=https://time.com/2916040/us-great-white-shark-population/ |access-date=29 October 2014 |magazine=Time |date=24 June 2014 |archive-date=31 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141031010147/http://time.com/2916040/us-great-white-shark-population/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=livescience>{{cite web |last1=Gannon |first1=Megan |title=Great White Sharks Are Making a Comeback off US Coasts |url=http://www.livescience.com/46442-great-whites-are-making-a-comeback.html? |website=livescience.com |date=20 June 2014 |access-date=29 October 2014 |archive-date=8 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141108010946/http://www.livescience.com/46442-great-whites-are-making-a-comeback.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Fishermen target many sharks for their jaws, teeth, and fins, and as game fish in general. The great white shark, however, is rarely an object of [[commercial fishing]], although its flesh is considered valuable. If casually captured (it happens for example in some [[tonnara|tonnare]] in the [[Mediterranean]]), it is misleadingly sold as ''[[smooth-hound shark]]''.<ref name="DeMaddalena">{{cite book |last1=De Maddalena |first1=Alessandro |last2=Heim |first2=Walter |title=Mediterranean Great White Sharks: A Comprehensive Study Including All Recorded Sightings |publisher=McFarland |date=2012 |isbn=978-0-7864-5889-9}}</ref>

=== In Australia ===
The great white shark was declared vulnerable by the [[Australian Government]] in 1999 because of significant population decline and is currently protected under the [[Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999|Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act]].<ref name="epbc">{{cite web |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64470 |title=Species Profile and Threats Database – ''Carcharodon carcharias''—Great White Shark |author=Government of Australia |access-date=21 August 2013 |archive-date=14 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214225457/http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=64470 |url-status=live}}</ref> The causes of decline prior to protection included mortality from [[sport fishing]] harvests as well as being caught in beach protection netting.<ref name="au2002">{{cite report |url=http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/white-shark-carcharodon-carcharias-recovery-plan |title=White Shark (''Carcharodon carcharias'') Recovery Plan |year=2002 |author=Environment Australia |access-date=17 November 2013 |archive-date=21 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221165131/http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/white-shark-carcharodon-carcharias-recovery-plan |url-status=live}}</ref>

The national conservation status of the great white shark is reflected by all Australian states under their respective laws, granting the species full protection throughout Australia regardless of jurisdiction.<ref name="epbc" /> Many states had prohibited the killing or possession of great white sharks prior to national legislation coming into effect. The great white shark is further listed as threatened in [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]] under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, and as rare or likely to become extinct under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Conservation Act in [[Western Australia]].<ref name="epbc" />

In 2002, the Australian government created the White Shark Recovery Plan, implementing government-mandated conservation research and monitoring for conservation in addition to federal protection and stronger regulation of shark-related trade and tourism activities.<ref name="au2002" /> An updated recovery plan was published in 2013 to review progress, research findings, and to implement further conservation actions.<ref name="au2013" /> A study in 2012 revealed that Australia's white shark population was separated by [[Bass Strait]] into [[population genetics|genetically distinct]] eastern and western populations, indicating a need for the development of regional conservation strategies.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blower |first1=Dean C. |last2=Pandolfi |first2=John M. |last3=Bruce |first3=Barry D. |last4=Gomez-Cabrera |first4=Maria del C. |last5=Ovenden |first5=Jennifer R. |year=2012 |title=Population genetics of Australian white sharks reveals fine-scale spatial structure, transoceanic dispersal events and low effective population sizes |journal=Marine Ecology Progress Series |volume=455 |pages=229–244 |doi=10.3354/meps09659 |bibcode=2012MEPS..455..229B|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Presently, human-caused shark mortality is continuing, primarily from accidental and illegal catching in commercial and recreational fishing as well as from being caught in beach protection netting, and the populations of great white shark in Australia are yet to recover.<ref name="au2013" />

In spite of official protections in Australia, great white sharks continue to be killed in state "shark control" programs within Australia. For example, the government of [[Queensland]] has a "shark control" program ([[shark culling]]) which kills great white sharks (as well as other marine life) using [[shark nets]] and [[drum line (shark control)|drum lines with baited hooks]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.seashepherd.org.au/apex-harmony/overview/about-the-campaign.html |title=About the Campaign: Sea Shepherd Working Together With The Community To Establish Sustainable Solutions To Shark Bite Incidents |website=seashepherd.org |access-date=29 August 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408052757/http://www.seashepherd.org.au/apex-harmony/overview/about-the-campaign.html}}</ref><ref name="shark_culling">{{cite web |url=https://www.marineconservation.org.au/pages/shark-culling.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002102324/https://www.marineconservation.org.au/pages/shark-culling.html |archive-date=2 October 2018 |website=marineconservation.org.au. |title=Shark culling |access-date=30 August 2019}}</ref> In Queensland, great white sharks that are found alive on the baited hooks are shot.<ref name="onegreenplanet">{{cite web |url=http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/brutal-lengths-australia-going-order-keep-sharks-away-tourists/ |publisher=One Green Planet |title=Heartbreaking Photos Show the Brutal Lengths Australia Is Going to In Order to 'Keep Sharks Away From Tourists' |first=Kelly |last=Wang |date=4 September 2018 |access-date=29 August 2019 |archive-date=30 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190830213532/https://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/brutal-lengths-australia-going-order-keep-sharks-away-tourists/ |url-status=live}}</ref> The government of [[New South Wales]] also kills great white sharks in its "shark control" program.<ref name="shark_culling" /> Partly because of these programs, shark numbers in eastern Australia have decreased.<ref name="decline" />

The Australasian population of great white sharks is believed to be in excess of 8,000–10,000 individuals according to genetic research studies done by [[CSIRO]], with an adult population estimated to be around 2,210 individuals in both [[Eastern Australia|Eastern]] and [[Western Australia]]. The annual survival rate for juveniles in these two separate populations was estimated in the same study to be close to 73 per cent, while adult sharks had a 93 per cent annual survival rate. Whether or not mortality rates in great white sharks have declined, or the population has increased as a result of the protection of this species in Australian waters is as yet unknown due to the slow growth rates of this species.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://theconversation.com/world-first-genetic-analysis-reveals-aussie-white-shark-numbers-91479 |title=World-first genetic analysis reveals Aussie white shark numbers |first1=Rich |last1=Hillary |first2=Russ |last2=Bradford |first3=Toby |last3=Patterson |website=The Conversation |date=8 February 2018 |access-date=21 August 2021 |archive-date=17 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617100838/https://theconversation.com/world-first-genetic-analysis-reveals-aussie-white-shark-numbers-91479 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== In New Zealand ===
The great white shark is one of the most commonly found in the waters of New Zealand.<ref name="Secrets">{{citeq|Q114871191|pp=164-169}}</ref> As of April 2007, great white sharks were fully protected within {{cvt|370|km}} of New Zealand and additionally from fishing by New Zealand-flagged boats outside this range. The maximum penalty is a $250,000 fine and up to six months in prison.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10413182 |title=Great white sharks to be protected |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=30 November 2006 |access-date=30 November 2006 |archive-date=4 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104123819/http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10413182 |url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2018 the New Zealand [[Department of Conservation (New Zealand)|Department of Conservation]] classified the great white shark under the [[New Zealand Threat Classification System]] as "Nationally Endangered". The species meets the criteria for this classification as there exists a moderate, stable population of between 1000 and 5000 mature individuals. This classification has the qualifiers "Data Poor" and "Threatened Overseas".<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/nztcs23entire.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190115182429/https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/science-and-technical/nztcs23entire.pdf |archive-date=15 January 2019 |url-status=live |title=Conservation status of New Zealand chondrichthyans (chimaeras, sharks and rays), 2016 |last1=Duffy |first1=Clinton A. J. |last2=Francis |first2=Malcolm |last3=Dunn |first3=M. R. |last4=Finucci |first4=Brit |last5=Ford |first5=Richard |last6=Hitchmough |first6=Rod |last7=Rolfe |first7=Jeremy |publisher=Department of Conservation |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-988514-62-8 |location=Wellington, New Zealand |pages=9 |oclc=1042901090}}</ref>

===In the United States===
====California====
In addition to existing federal regulations, great white sharks have been protected under California state law since January 1st, 1994.<ref name="CDFW FAQ">{{cite web|title=White Shark FAQ|date=3 June 2024|website=California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)|url=https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/White-Shark#542632337-is-it-legal-to-catch-white-sharks|url-status=live|access-date=3 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803191715/https://wildlife.ca.gov/Conservation/Marine/White-Shark#542632337-is-it-legal-to-catch-white-sharks|archive-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> Under this law, catching, hunting, pursuit, capturing, and/or killing of great whites in California waters is strictly prohibited up to {{cvt|3|miles|km}} offshore,<ref name="CDFW SAAG">{{cite web|title=White Shark: Species-at-a-Glance|website=California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)|url=https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/white-shark/|url-status=live|access-date=3 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803192955/https://marinespecies.wildlife.ca.gov/white-shark/|archive-date=3 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="MontereyHerald2018">{{cite news|author=San Jose Mercury News|title=Great white sharks off the coast of California are safer, at least for now|date=11 September 2018|work=Monterey Herald|url=https://www.montereyherald.com/2013/02/06/great-white-sharks-off-the-coast-of-california-are-safer-at-least-for-now/|url-status=live|access-date=3 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803193836/https://www.montereyherald.com/2013/02/06/great-white-sharks-off-the-coast-of-california-are-safer-at-least-for-now/|archive-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> though exceptions exist for great whites caught for scientific research or unintentionally caught as [[bycatch]]. In both cases, a special permit is required in order to legally take them.<ref name="Quan2013">{{cite magazine|last1=Quan|first1=Kristene A.|title=Great White Sharks Are Now Protected under California Law|date=4 March 2013|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|TIME]]|url=https://newsfeed.time.com/2013/03/04/great-white-sharks-are-now-protected-under-california-law/|url-status=live|access-date=3 August 2024|archive-date=10 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310031957/http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/03/04/great-white-sharks-are-now-protected-under-california-law/}}</ref>

In 2013, great white sharks were added to [[California Endangered Species Act|California's Endangered Species Act]]. From data collected, the population of great whites in the North Pacific was estimated to be fewer than 340 individuals. Research also reveals these sharks are genetically distinct from other members of their species elsewhere in Africa, Australia, and the east coast of North America, having been isolated from other populations.<ref name="Quan2013"/>

A 2014 study estimated the population of great white sharks along the California coastline to be approximately 2,400.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Lauren |title=Shark numbers not tanking |work=Huntington Beach Wave |publisher=[[The Orange County Register]] |date=3 July 2014 |page=12}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Burgess |first1=George H. |last2=Bruce |first2=Barry D. |last3=Cailliet |first3=Gregor M. |last4=Goldman |first4=Kenneth J. |last5=Grubbs |first5=R. Dean |last6=Lowe |first6=Christopher J. |last7=MacNeil |first7=M. Aaron |last8=Mollet |first8=Henry F. |last9=Weng |first9=Kevin C.|last10=O'Sullivan|first10=John B. |title=A Re-Evaluation of the Size of the White Shark (''Carcharodon carcharias'') Population off California, USA |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0098078 |pmid=24932483 |pmc=4059630 |journal=[[PLoS ONE]] |date=16 June 2014 |volume=9 |issue=6 |pages=e98078 |bibcode=2014PLoSO...998078B|doi-access=free}}</ref>

In September 2019, California governor [[Gavin Newsom]] signed Assembly Bill 2109 into law, banning the use of shark bait, shark lures, and [[chumming]] to attract great whites in California waters, and prohibiting their usage within one [[nautical mile]] of any shoreline, pier, or jetty when a great white is visible or known to be present in the area.<ref name="CDFW2022">{{cite news|title=California Assembly Bill 2109 Provides New Protections For White Sharks|date=30 September 2022|website=California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW)|
url=https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/california-assembly-bill-2109-signed-into-law-providing-new-protections-for-white-sharks|url-status=live|access-date=3 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803190236/https://wildlife.ca.gov/News/Archive/california-assembly-bill-2109-signed-into-law-providing-new-protections-for-white-sharks|archive-date=3 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="Cohen2023">{{cite web|last1=Cohen|first1=Ariana|title=New California law makes it illegal to fish for Great White Sharks|date=6 January 2023|work=[[KFMB-TV]]|publisher=[[CBS]]|url=https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/california-law-illegal-to-fish-for-great-white-sharks/509-b7f5bc2c-6c88-47a8-9f20-ae7b2c8054f2|url-status=live|access-date=3 August 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240803190640/https://www.cbs8.com/article/news/local/california-law-illegal-to-fish-for-great-white-sharks/509-b7f5bc2c-6c88-47a8-9f20-ae7b2c8054f2|archive-date=3 August 2024}}</ref>

====Massachusetts====
In June 2015, Massachusetts banned catching, cage diving, feeding, towing decoys, or baiting and chumming for its significant and highly predictable migratory great white population without an appropriate research permit.  However, these restrictions apply to only activities within state waters, which extend three miles from shore.  Therefore there are over a dozen tour operators offering cage diving and some do bait and/or chum.<ref name=":1" />