GUY HARVEY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
MAKO CHRONICLES BY DR. MAHMOOD SHIVJI & DARYL CARSON
Tracking one of the fastest sharks in the world. For any angler who has tangled with a shortfn mako, they know the power of
Commercially, makos are most often taken as bycatch in longline and drift gillnet
these incredible sharks. The largest animals reach a length of more than 12 feet,
operations, where they are kept for their high quality meat and fns. The number
and makos are known for impressive acrobatics during a fght, often putting
of makos killed per year around the world is unknown, but fshing pressure on
on a series of leaps that can take them 10 to 20 feet out of the water. Makos are
their populations is believed to be huge. Research by the Guy Harvey Research
also considered among the fastest, if not the fastest, of sharks. Although there is
Institute (GHRI), in collaboration with Dr. Shelley Clarke, has estimated that a
no defnitive answer, various researchers have estimated these torpedo-shaped
median of about half a million mako sharks were utilized in the global shark fn
animals can reach a top speed between 30 and 65 mph when accelerating to
trade as of the year 2000.
capture prey. For the record, that’s faster than Congress can vote itself a pay raise. But makos seem to be designed for high speed swimming—they have
Despite the heavy commercial bycatch of makos and their popularity among sport fshermen, good information on the biology of these sharks to aid in
a highly streamlined shape with a conical snout, large gills for efcient gas
management is surprisingly sparse. However, current research does suggest
exchange and a prominent fattened keel at the posterior end of the trunk
that mako numbers in parts of their range are in decline. This is of concern for
that is believed to strengthen the tail for powerful movements. Unlike most sharks, makos and their kin (e.g., white sharks,
Researchers are amazed at not only the incredible distances Carol has traveled, but also the travel pattern itself.
salmon sharks) have
many reasons, including the fact that makos are clearly toplevel predators in the ocean, likely giving them an important ecosystem role. Stomach content analysis has shown that smaller sharks, swordfsh, billfsh, turtles and bony fshes are all part of the mako diet. Just like other highly migratory species, the efective management of makos is a challenge, because it increases the difculty of assessing population numbers, and because
adaptations that allow them to maintain parts of their body, including muscles, at
applying conservation measures requires the coordinated eforts of multiple
temperatures several degrees above ambient seawater. This is believed to be part
nations or user groups. Details of mako migratory patterns in diferent parts
of the reason why makos can achieve such high swimming speeds. And, not to
of their global range remain largely unknown, adding to the difculties of
carry the political analogy too far, but unlike some politicians, this suggests makos
formulating efective management and conservation plans. The good news is that
are not completely “cold blooded.”
information coming in from new tracking studies is helping to solve this problem.
From a fshing and conservation perspective, makos are no less intriguing.
In New Zealand, a study co-sponsored by the GHRI, New Zealand National
With a global range, and a high quality meat, these sharks are popular in both
Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and New Zealand Ministry for
commercial and sport fshing. They have been referred to as one of the great
Primary Industries placed a satellite “SPOT” tag on a six-foot juvenile female mako
gamefshes of the world due to their feisty nature when hooked on rod and reel.
dubbed “Carol.” Carol has provided almost daily, good quality detections for her
