Presence of a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias Linnaeus, 1758) on the coast of Veracruz, Mexico

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Abstract

Historically, scientific records of great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in the Gulf of Mexico have been rare; however, on January 24, 2024, a subadult male was captured in Tamiahua, Veracruz, Mexico. The specimen measured 353 cm in total length and weighed 411.9 kg, which complements the reported presence of females of the species in other regions of the Gulf of Mexico. Although capture records suggest the species is rare, local ecological knowledge from fishermen indicates that specimens were captured in previous years. The presence of C. carcharias in this region may be associated with the fact that, in other areas (e.g. Mexican Pacific), individuals of similar size tend to remain near the continental shelf. This record is the first officially documented record of a subadult male of C. carcharias in the region. This finding expands our knowledge of the species' dynamics in the Gulf of Mexico, suggesting that, as in the Mexican Pacific (Guadalupe Island), the Veracruz coast plays a key role in the conservation of this endangered vulnerable species.

Caudana-Hernández, F., Gallegos-Santos, J., & Torres Rojas, Y. (2026). Presence of a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias Linnaeus, 1758) on the coast of Veracruz, Mexico. Latin American Journal of Aquatic Research, 54(2). doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.3856/vol54-issue2-fulltext-3532

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