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Smooth Hammerhead Shark

It may not be great, but it sure is smooth! The smooth hammerhead is the second largest species of hammerhead, only smaller than the great hammerhead.

 

The smooth hammerhead is named after and identified by its lack of a notch in the middle of its cephalophoil, distinguishing it from other hammerheads species that have a middle notch. This shark can grow to be over 3.7-4 meters (12-13 feet) long and has a dark olive or brownish-gray body with a light underside. It is found worldwide in temperate seas and, in some regions, is also present in tropical seas. The smooth hammerhead prefers shallow waters, roams in bays and estuaries, and has even been found venturing into freshwater. 

While adults spend most of their time solitary or in small groups, juvenile smooth hammerheads are known to form large aggregations at certain times of year, traveling south in winter and north in summer. These predators are known to primarily prey on fish and squid.

 

 

Smooth hammerheads are primarily threatened by a variety of fishing activity, leading to their classification as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. This species is captured globally both as target and bycatch in a range of fisheries. It is particularly sought after for its high-value fins, making it one of the more desirable species in the Asian shark fin market.  Additionally, smooth hammerheads have been known to be threatened by beach protection programs targeting large sharks. 

 

 

In 2024, NOAA Fisheries announced a final rule to prohibit the commercial and recreational retention of hammerhead sharks in the U.S. Caribbean. However, hammerhead species are still often caught as bycatch in other areas and fisheries, and a number of hammerhead populations are listed as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act.  Stopping overfishing and increasing transparency at sea is essential to helping smooth hammerheads recover. Oceana is working around the world to reduce overfishing and bycatch and protect threatened marine wildlife. 

 

 

 

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