Great White Shark — South Africa
Carcharodon carcharias
Quick Fact
Great white sharks can detect a single drop of blood in 100 litres of water and sense electrical fields produced by other animals.
This short film draws on Rowan Byrne's field experience with great white sharks in South Africa.
About This Species
The great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) is the largest predatory fish on Earth, reaching lengths of over 6 metres. Despite their fearsome reputation, great whites are apex predators that play a critical role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. They are listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, threatened by overfishing, finning, and bycatch. South Africa's waters — particularly around Gansbaai and Mossel Bay — are among the most important great white shark habitats in the world.
Why It Matters
As apex predators, great white sharks regulate prey populations and maintain the balance of marine food webs. Their decline has cascading effects throughout the entire ocean ecosystem.
Transcript
I've been in the water with great white sharks off the coast of South Africa. And the one thing I can tell you is this — they are nothing like the monster you've seen in the movies. Great whites are apex predators. They sit at the very top of the marine food chain. And that's exactly why they matter so much. They regulate seal and sea lion populations. They remove sick and weak animals. They keep the entire ecosystem in balance. A great white can grow to six metres and live for 70 years. They travel thousands of kilometres across open ocean. Some individuals have been tracked from South Africa to Australia and back. They're also highly intelligent. They investigate unfamiliar objects — including divers — out of curiosity, not aggression. The vast majority of shark encounters with humans involve no attack at all. Yet we kill around 100 million sharks every year. Finning, bycatch, trophy fishing. Great whites are now listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. We are far more dangerous to them than they are to us. It's time we started acting like it.