Scientific research indicates that great white sharks can live for seven decades or more, making them one of the longest‑lived large fish species and highlighting life‑history traits like slow growth and late maturity
Evidence for longevity
Validated age estimates from vertebral analyses and radiocarbon dating have extended prior longevity estimates for adult great white sharks, with some individuals aged at more than 70 years in recent studies, showing these animals grow much more slowly and live longer than once believed.
Growth patterns and reproductive timing
Great whites exhibit slow somatic growth and reach sexual maturity relatively late compared with many fish species. Females generally mature later than males, and late maturity means populations recover slowly from losses, which has important conservation implications.
Conservation implications
Longevity and delayed maturity make great white populations vulnerable to overfishing, bycatch and habitat disruption because reduced adult survival or breeding success can take decades to manifest in population declines and centuries to rebound without effective protection.
Ongoing research and knowledge gaps
Age estimation for large sharks remains challenging and benefits from additional validated samples across regions and sexes. Improving methods for ageing, tracking and demographic modelling will refine lifespan estimates and better inform management strategies.
Takeaway
Evidence that great white sharks can live beyond 70 years reframes how scientists and managers view their life history, underscoring the need for long‑term conservation measures that account for slow growth, late reproduction and the species’ role as an apex predator.