ABSTRACT
In order to ensure proper management of White Shark populations, it is imperative to understand the life history of this species. In previous studies, postmortem examinations were conducted, and vertebral ring counts were used to assess age, growth, and size at maturity from a limited number of individuals. Collectively, these studies suggest that White Sharks exhibit common elasmobranch life history characteristics, including late maturity, slow growth, low fecundity, and long life spans (Cailliet et al., 1985; Adams et al., 1994; Compagno et al., 1997; Wintner and Cliff, 1999), which suf¢ciently reduce its ability to withstand exploitation (Dulvy et al., 2008). Moreover, information regarding the reproductive biology of this species, an important aspect of the life history necessary for management, is lacking. Because of the conservation status of White Sharks, the use of conventional techniques, i.e., sacri¢cing specimens, is prohibited.
