CMMS Mav News

The Blacktip reef shark has a lifespan of 10 years and the scientific name Carcharhinus melanopterus. They live along the coastlines of Pacific regions like Thailand, Japan, the Philippines, New Caledonia and Northern Australia. Often light brown and gray on their upper torso with white underbellies, this species reaches lengths of 5 to 6 feet in adulthood. They don’t pose a threat to humans but can mistake people for prey and may be roused by food. Blacktip reef sharks prefer fish but also feed on crustaceans, cephalopods, mollusks, surgeonfish, and mullet. In mangrove areas, they consume snakes with serrated teeth, helping sharks digest them.

Blacktip sharks are obligate ram ventilators that have to keep swimming to push oxygen-carrying water over their gills to breathe, forcing them to surface. Like other sharks, they have periods of rest to reduce activity while remaining vigilant.

Blacktip reef sharks are skittish but curious around humans and are usually found near beaches, bays, estuaries, coral reefs, and off river mouths. Scientists have found that frightened sharks could migrate away from their homes. However, Blacktip reef sharks already exhibit migratory behavior, moving between different reef systems seeking food and breeding grounds, usually in shallow-water areas.

Unfortunately, Blacktip reef sharks are considered a vulnerable species that’s in the threatened range for the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature). One issue could be natural predators like larger sharks eating them. But the significant reason behind this is major overfishing, when they’re caught by commercial fisheries for their meat, liver oil and fins. People have been trying to find solutions to increase their numbers. One idea is to isolate a group of them and let them repopulate, creating stability in their population. The IUCN is trying their best to solve this problem as well, with hopes of eliminating Blacktip reef sharks from their threatened species list.

Written by Brisa Kruska