Shortfin mako sharks are listed as Endangered after decades of overfishing for fins, meat, and sport fishing, with welfare concerns across all points of capture and mortality.
Makos caught on sport fishing lines are among the most physically vigorous fish caught in recreational fisheries; their frantic struggle during capture causes acute physiological stress including lactic acid accumulation. Targeted commercial fishing causes acute suffering through longline capture and deck death. Animals caught and released in sport fishing face high post-release mortality from physiological exhaustion. Their high-speed predatory lifestyle means capture and confinement causes particularly acute distress. The slow reproductive rate means individual mortality has disproportionate population consequences.