As adults, scalloped hammerheads occupy both coastal and offshore ocean waters. Scalloped hammerhead sharks rely on shallow, coastal areas such as bays and mangroves for essential breeding habitat. The species’ most distinguishing characteristic is its “hammer-shaped” head. Scalloped hammerhead sharks have a global distribution. The interim recovery program also involves gathering species-specific habitat and life history data that will guide the implementation of effective protective measures both domestically and internationally. These efforts aim to slow population decline and include research into best methods for the safe release of individuals accidentally captured during commercial fishing operations. With the help of our partners, NOAA Fisheries is implementing an interim recovery program. Protection from further decline is critical to their long-term survival. They are long-lived, late maturing, and have low to moderate reproductive rates. Recovery of oceanic whitetip sharks is challenging. In 2018, due to significant population declines caused by bycatch and illegal fin sales, NOAA Fisheries listed the oceanic whitetip shark as threatened. Behavioral changes in top predators like these sharks could have cascading impacts on populations of other species and on the function and health of the ocean. Increasing ocean temperatures are likely to affect their movement patterns and may also affect their ability to maintain sufficient body temperatures. Their movements between deep and shallow waters cycle nutrients throughout the water column, enhancing ocean productivity. While this species prefers warmer surface waters, they are cold-blooded animals and will dive deep to regulate their body temperature if they become too warm at the surface.

If prey is insufficient, oceanic whitetip sharks will need to move with their prey to survive. As the ocean warms, prey species will need to migrate to follow the nutrient cycles. These ocean processes are regulated by changes in temperature. Many prey species rely on nutrients spread by offshore circulation and upwelling. Oceanic whitetip sharks prey primarily on large, pelagic fish and squid that are also affected by climate-induced ecosystem changes. Warming oceans could further threaten their populations by altering the distribution and quantity of their prey and limiting the availability of their preferred habitat. In parts of their range, oceanic whitetip sharks already face pressure from commercial fishing through bycatch and illegal fin sales. Small pilot fish congregate around an oceanic whitetip shark to feed on parasites. Through climate-focused science and management, we aim to better understand the potential impacts of climate change on endangered species to foster their recovery into the future. However, climate change will continue to make the recovery of endangered species more challenging. Since it was enacted, no listed marine or anadromous species have gone extinct. In 2023, NOAA Fisheries celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Endangered Species Act, which has put many species on the path to recovery. Their complex and variable life histories mean that climate change will impact individual species differently, making it important to understand species-specific vulnerabilities and needs. As these climatic events intensify, predatory species like sharks and rays are shifting their geographic distributions based on prey and habitat availability. These shifting conditions can have critical effects on the health and distribution of marine species. Climate change has significant impacts on marine ecosystems, including warmer ocean temperatures, ocean acidification, and increased severity and frequency of storms.

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