Species Profile No. 10: The Silvertip Shark (Carcharhinus albimarginatus) • The silvertip shark is a large species of requiem shark. They are powerful predators. They often eat smaller sharks, and outcompete shark species that are around their own size. They also eat bony fishes, cephalopods, and rays. They are named for the beautiful white tips of their fins! • Silvertip sharks are globally listed as Vulnerable. Females carry their pups for around a year, with 1-11 pups being born per litter. As with other shark species, slow reproduction has left silvertips vulnerable to overfishing. • The silvertip shark is not used much in the shark fin trade. They are targeted for their meat, teeth, jaws, and oil. They are also frequently caught as bycatch, mostly by tuna and longline fisheries. When they are caught as bycatch, they are usually kept and killed for their meat, fins, etc. • This species is not specifically mentioned in any sort of shark protection management plans, quotas, etc. There are some regulations, like fishermen having to report bycatch, that theoretically benefit these sharks, but in reality these measures are poorly enforced. As a result, silvertip sharks have no real protection. • To help obscure species like the silvertip shark, please support Shark Advocates International and the IUCN Shark Specialist Group. •••••••••••••••••••••••• #silvertipshark #silvertip #shark #sharks #carcharhinus #requiemshark #sharkeducation #sharkconservation #dontfearthefin #replacefearwithfacts #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks https://www.instagram.com/p/BqxuTUvFq41/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wtxj6e1732wk
