Shortfin Mako Sharks' Genetic Diversity Offers Hope Amid Overfishing

[{"selector":"#anim-6ef58f6a-8492-4b7d-ab17-91009ce3cc8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9a2e6c99-aed2-48f7-acd3-801c43165ff1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.55696%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e4eb1ee-ffce-4412-bc99-73481f643193","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3a9a4a56-dd38-4dbf-bfc4-dc81514d01ff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-122.3301%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Shortfin Mako Sharks' Genetic Diversity Offers Hope Amid Overfishing Govind Tekale

Scientists discovered shortfin mako sharks maintain high genetic diversity despite severe overfishing threats in the Atlantic Ocean.

[{"selector":"#anim-0fe3567d-9fdb-4e96-bb35-ed857210c368","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d7985f1c-c887-43be-a7e7-e5c38d1e9667","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.50632%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-01c12afc-bcc2-4b80-8a1b-c0e7f96e83c5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23432b74-391d-4c1a-8901-3e59f8db8e27","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0413e0fb-4af8-4496-80ac-31ae451f344d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Credit: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

Shortfin makos, recognized as the fastest sharks globally, face critical endangerment from fishing pressures targeting their meat and valuable fins.

[{"selector":"#anim-5510e0d1-b471-43f7-a030-7719132cf0d7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-092e5bdd-6674-4bba-ba33-3af3652e1e68","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.72400%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9fc3c8ce-fa48-4eec-ba59-f3c72bb20377","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac199c44-f8a4-4a21-aa0f-315e24f49773","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -111.1955%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-36a35b8d-0ded-4def-b117-a7188d9dabc5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Scott (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Recent satellite tracking reveals fishing mortality rates for northern Atlantic makos could be ten times higher than previously calculated estimates.

[{"selector":"#anim-4eb46c66-b9db-4195-bd8b-ac3753af9270","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d5335cbe-176c-4e40-b1da-b1bcb3559cdc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.58885%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7d70e74c-26d5-4afa-9afc-787de99406fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43c954b3-daba-49c6-996e-33766764a0c4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(113.60759%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8e7e2e98-6fb1-4d5c-80ce-1e9030cbf6c8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Hervé Cozanet (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Dr. Andrea Bernard's research team conducted first-ever full genome sequencing of mako shark DNA across the Atlantic range.

[{"selector":"#anim-9f94b7ce-a441-48dd-bd8e-83fc21586b3e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6b973e58-6947-43f9-894c-674d694cf9e5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 194.01709%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b9c2b398-1e7d-4a06-989c-29cb2077d976","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72717e77-3bb2-4870-909a-bac4f11370da","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c8ca7bfd-6e23-4e5d-ab6f-a2ee3feb6a41","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Anne Sheppard (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Male mako sharks spread genes across the Atlantic through extensive migration patterns, while females return to specific birth areas.

[{"selector":"#anim-688f55bc-ee56-47e7-bc81-79e0df4f2bdd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4dbe78c-5a38-4ec2-b2a1-bade7154392b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-57a84cc0-fbc3-4947-aad8-2ed44ff68c8e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ade24be1-8871-43c5-b4ce-f2d22794cff8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71053153-7a65-4d4a-939d-273376b23af5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: DJ Cockburn (CC BY-NC 2.0)

The sustained genetic diversity provides hope for mako sharks to adapt to environmental changes, but only if immediate fishing restrictions take effect.

[{"selector":"#anim-020392cb-5d15-490a-9546-18a7faf10857","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-70cea380-c5f8-4bff-ad11-1679950f6b55","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.72400%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c63f1613-2128-4eaa-832c-540600ce4b15","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d879f78f-4cfd-49fb-b666-64d929085bf1","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0784a6eb-a681-4a45-83cf-f43e82284f86","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Ian Abbott (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0)

Researchers emphasize urgent need for science-based fisheries management to protect remaining mako populations before genetic advantages diminish.

[{"selector":"#anim-537e6f14-5a14-4cd0-9d68-f811d6abdf0e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b9b734e-ea33-47ef-abff-43e1e9b83fab","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-931ba890-b7c7-4528-82d8-0ff8c7018951","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f2935437-518a-4f7a-83b3-4ee050e83645","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2d0078f6-3521-4012-ba77-158384f15c17","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: CSIRO (CC BY 3.0)

Study findings support current strategy of managing northern and southern Atlantic mako populations as separate stocks due to distinct genetic patterns.

[{"selector":"#anim-eb180dc8-02a9-48a8-bb49-9a2193d4c7d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1e32a0b-fb0c-4ce0-ad73-4e870e706706","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 163.36915%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-678c8e8c-8bb6-4ed6-8c50-f400544e02f1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b31afc1-38f0-4cb7-bf29-d7c3a251084d","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-221e0fa9-1474-421c-8bfd-6c0a8537f769","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Oscar Trisley (Pexels)

UN Convention on Biological Diversity now includes genetic diversity monitoring as crucial factor for species conservation policies.

[{"selector":"#anim-19148f5f-f61c-480b-8690-a06cfd9da88e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7f800dfd-016c-4488-b915-e151a10c3eec","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-37533a7f-8407-4dcd-aba2-39f6492e6c45","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dfa752ec-84de-455e-bfa0-03dfe3cbac54","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38052417-fdc5-495e-bc1d-64e570ff47a4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United Nations (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-4f41022c-1acd-4833-8347-36ede0b6d98c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-38285961-68c5-4305-bc52-92ac9d1a86e7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81f6237d-49a7-449b-9459-32808a449acc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b07730be-3805-480d-9ab6-cc611dceab88","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-90e39f54-cb9e-4f80-bb9b-f9c03490ad36","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.23810%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Black Devil Fish Filmed Alive Near Tenerife for the First Time Learn more