Petition to list the Porbeagle Shark (Lamna nasus) under the U.S. Endangered Species Act

Abstract

The Porbeagle Shark (Lamna nasus) is a remarkable fast, large shark that has adapted to cold waters in the northern and southern hemisphere through heat exchangers that keep its body warmer than surrounding waters. Its extensive range includes the North Atlantic, South Atlantic, South Pacific, South Indian, and Antarctic Oceans. Like other sharks, it is part of an ancient lineage stretching back more than 200 million years. Its evolutionary fine-tuning hasn’t protected it, however, from a literal feeding frenzy – by humans on sharks.