Bronze whaler

Bronze whalers (Carcharhinus brachyurus) are often spotted close to shore around Australian beaches. This species is not aggressive, and not often implicated in attacks, but is potentially dangerous to spearfishers carrying fresh catches and surfers.

Description

Large sharks, up to 3.5 metres and 300 kg. As hinted by their name, the colour is grey to bronze on the back, with dusky to black tips on the pelvic and pectoral fins.

Distribution

A coastal shark, typically found in coastal and continental shelf waters of Southern Australia. Bronze whalers are often seen close inshore, feeding on schooling fish.

Diet

Schooling fish, such as salmon as well as squid and bottom dwelling fish in deeper waters.

Conservation status

Classified as "Least Concern" by the IUCN.

Shark smarts

Most sharks are slow growing, making them susceptible to fishing pressure, but this is especially true of bronze whalers who can take up to 20 years to reach sexual maturity. Females are thought to breed every second year and have live litters of seven to 24 pups.