Shortfin Mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)

Key Details

Taxonomic Groups: Vertebrate > cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes) > Fish
Red List Status: (Not Relevant) [(not listed)(nr)]
D5 Status:
Section 41 Status: (not listed)
Taxa Included Synonym: (none)
UKSI Recommended Name: Isurus oxyrinchus
UKSI Recommended Authority: Rafinesque, 1810
UKSI Recommended Qualifier: (none specified)
Red List Citation: (not listed)
Notes on taxonomy/listing: (none)

Criteria

Question 1: Does species need conservation or recovery in England?
Response: Yes
Justification: Endangered globally.
Question 2: Does recovery/ conservation depend on species-specific actions?
Response: Yes
Justification: Species specific research required
Question 3: At a landscape scale, would the species benefit from untargeted habitat management to increase habitat mosaics, structural diversity, or particular successional stages?
Response: No
Justification: This species would not benefit from untargeted management

Species Assessment

Current step on the Species Recovery Curve (SRC): 1. Taxonomy established
Recovery potential/expectation: Low - Combination or other (detail in comments)
National Monitoring Resource: Opportunistic - insufficient
Species Comments: Life history, pressures outside England. Policy conflict - bycatch pressure.

Key Actions

Key Action 1

Proposed Action: Build baseline understanding of shortfin mako biology, ecology including population dynamics.

Action targets: 2. Biological status assessment exists

Action type: Targeted monitoring

Duration: 3-5 years

Scale of Implementation: National

High priority sites:

Comments:

Key Action 2

Proposed Action: Implementation of suitable spatial or temporal management for those essential habitat identified for shortfin mako to ensure population resilience.

Action targets: 4. Autecology and pressures understood

Action type: Scientific research

Duration: 3-5 years

Scale of Implementation: National

High priority sites:

Comments:

Key Action 3

Proposed Action: Investigate survival rate post bycatch or in recreational fisheries to inform species conservation measures

Action targets: 4. Autecology and pressures understood

Action type: Scientific research

Duration: 3-5 years

Scale of Implementation: National

High priority sites:

Comments:

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Acknowledgment:
Data used on this website are adapted from Threatened species recovery actions 2025 baseline (JP065): Technical report and spreadsheet user guide (Natural England, 2025). Available here.