Shortfin mako sharks are highly sought after by fishermen, as they are known to put up a spectacular fight when hooked, often leaping into the air with flamboyant flips.
Like most open ocean shark species, mako sharks do very poorly in captivity. Some attempts have been made, but the sharks typically do not feed while in captivity and have trouble avoiding the tank walls.
Both species of mako shark are considered endangered. Though most sport fisherman practice catch-and-release with these sharks, they are still caught as commercial “bycatch” and are sometimes even specifically targeted, as their meat is considered the best among sharks.
Though human beings rarely encounter mako sharks in the water due to their offshore habitat, these sharks still pose a potential threat to people and should be treated with respect at all times. Mako sharks do nottypically view humans as prey, so unprovoked attacks are very rare; however, the shark will attack if harassed or provoked, and may be attracted to spearfishermen who’ve caught a fish.
Mako sharks can also be dangerous when brought into a boat by fishermen, and many attacks occur when trying to handle the shark once it has been brought out of the water.
