1. Overfishing: Great white sharks are often caught as bycatch in commercial and recreational fisheries. They may also be targeted for their fins, meat, and jaws, which are used for commercial purposes. This deliberate or accidental fishing depletes their populations.
2. Habitat Loss: The destruction and degradation of coastal ecosystems where great white sharks live, such as coral reefs, kelp forests, and coastal wetlands, reduce suitable habitats for the species. Urban development, pollution, and habitat modifications further jeopardize their survival.
3. Slow Reproductive Rate: Great white sharks are slow to reach sexual maturity and have low reproductive rates. A female shark may only produce a few offspring every few years. This slow reproduction makes it challenging for the species to recover from population declines.
4. Hunting and Trophy Hunting: In some regions, great white sharks are hunted for sport or killed as a means of controlling perceived threats to humans. This direct exploitation adds to their population decline.
5. Pollution: Toxic substances, chemicals, and marine debris can harm great white sharks. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals accumulate in their tissues and may have adverse effects on their health, reproduction, and immune systems.
6. Climate Change: Changes in ocean temperatures and acidity due to climate change can impact great white shark habitats, food sources, and migration patterns. Alterations in their environment may affect their survival chances and reproductive success.
Concerned individuals, conservation organizations, and governments have implemented various measures to protect great white sharks, including limits on fishing quotas, establishment of marine protected areas, and regulations against hunting and finning. Despite these efforts, continued monitoring and conservation actions are necessary to ensure the recovery and sustained protection of great white shark populations.