Restrictions

White Sharks are protected at all times in all South Australian waters under Section 71 of the Fisheries Management Act 2007. A person must not take, harm, or harass a White Shark.

The sale, purchase and possession of White Shark (including body parts) is also illegal.

There is a penalty of up to $20,000 for individuals prosecuted in court.

Safety

You must treat White Sharks with caution as bites can be fatal. Learn more about shark safety.

Identification

White Sharks have:

  • a conical snout
  • triangular serrated teeth
  • dark grey, sliver grey to bronze colouring on the upper (dorsal) side
  • a white underside
  • black tips on the underside of large, white pectoral fins
  • a large tail, pectoral and dorsal fin
  • a distinct keel-like feature where the body joins the tail.

White Sharks are born at approximately 1.3 m in size and grow up to 6 m. They can live for 70 years.

Juvenile White Sharks (less than 3 to 4 m) mostly feed on fish and squid. As they grow, their diet changes to include other sharks, rays, and marine mammals.

Habitat

White Sharks are warm-blooded and inhabit the Southern Australian gulf, shelf, and oceanic waters. They are highly mobile and migrate between SA and Western Australian waters.