Are great white sharks federally protected? | Fact brief

Great white sharks are federally protected in the United States and are listed by NOAA Fisheries as a prohibited species. That designation means the animals must be released immediately if they are caught. The protection dates to 1997, when federal regulators banned possession of great white sharks and four other vulnerable species amid concerns about overfishing. Great whites are not currently classified as endangered. Federal rules permit catch-and-release fishing using rod and reel under specific conditions. In Maine, state law prohibits the “take” of white sharks in state waters, including attempts to remove them from their habitat. Recent Maine sightings drew attention, including incidents off Scarborough and a fatal attack in 2020 off Harpswell’s Bailey Island.