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Lemon Shark

The lemon shark is named for its distinct yellow-brown to olive skin color, which helps them camouflage in the sandy, tropical waters they inhabit.

 

Lemon sharks are found in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, from Virginia to southern Brazil, as well as parts of the Pacific. These sharks prefer a defined home range and are often seen aggregating together. The average adult shark can grow up to 3 meters (10 feet) and can be distinguished by its stocky build and two similarly sized dorsal fins. 

Their ability to camouflage along with their flattened head and short snout, makes the lemon shark a skillful predator of bony fish, crustaceans, and stingrays. Occasionally, this species has also been observed eating seabirds or smaller sharks! They live and hunt in waters around coral reefs and mangrove forests, with females seeking shelter in shallow nursery waters during spring or summer to give birth. Once born, pups remain in the nursery for several years, sheltered from larger predators, and feed on nutrients from nearby mangroves. 

 

 

Lemon sharks are listed as vulnerable to extinction by the IUCN red list and face a variety of threats. Globally, the species has undergone a 30-49% population reduction over the last 50 years.  

Bycatch 

These sharks are often taken as both target and bycatch of artisanal and commercial longline and gillnet fisheries. 

Shark Trade

Their rough and heavy skin makes them a preferred species for tanneries producing leather. They are also targeted for their meat and fins in the shark fin trade. 

 

 

Saving sharks requires global protections and dedicated enforcement of them. In recent years, Oceana has helped to ban the deadly shark fin trade in the United States and Canada. 

 

 

 

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