Habitat
Open pelagic waters of the Strait and adjoining Atlantic.
All species
Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
Highly aggressive
The fastest shark in the ocean, capable of bursts over 70 km/h.
Maximum size
2–2.9 m
Aggressiveness
Highly aggressive
Ecology
Endothermic and highly migratory; severely overfished globally.
Feeding
Fast pelagic prey — tuna, swordfish, mackerel and squid.
Behaviour
High-energy, capable of spectacular leaps when hooked.
Safety notes
Has injured fishers and divers when provoked. Maintain distance and avoid spearfishing aggregations.
Conservation status
IUCN: Endangered.
Sources & Citations
Data compiled from peer-reviewed and authoritative open sources. Last reviewed 2026.
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Conservation status for each species.
- The Shark Trust — Species Database
Biology, ecology and identification.
- FishBase
Maximum sizes, distribution and life-history data.
- Florida Museum — International Shark Attack File
Documented species behaviour around humans.
- Nature Gibraltar / Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society
Local marine fauna records around the Strait.