Great white sharks are iconic apex predators, the largest predatory fish globally, known for their immense size (11 to 16 feet, over a ton). They inhabit coastal surface waters across all major oceans, thriving in temperate to tropical climates.
Great Whites in Aquariums Today
Currently, no public aquariums worldwide successfully house great white sharks for long-term display. Attempts to keep them in captivity have proven extremely short-lived, typically for research or rehabilitation rather than permanent public exhibition. This absence reflects the significant challenges involved in their care.
Past Attempts to House Great Whites
Over the past 70 years, around 30 attempts have been made to keep great white sharks in captivity. The first recorded attempt in 1955 at Marineland of the Pacific saw a shark survive less than a day. SeaWorld also made several attempts from the 1970s to 1990s, with sharks typically dying or being released within weeks.
The Monterey Bay Aquarium made the most notable efforts between 2004 and 2011, displaying six juvenile sharks. The longest stay was 198 days for a female, which was released after attacking other exhibit sharks. Monterey Bay Aquarium ended its program in 2011 due to high resource intensity and challenges. A 2016 attempt by Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium in Japan resulted in an 11.5-foot male dying after just three days.
Factors Limiting Great White Survival in Captivity
Great white sharks are highly specialized marine animals whose biological and environmental needs make long-term captivity unsustainable. Their immense size, with adults reaching over 15 feet in length, necessitates vast open spaces that no aquarium tank can replicate. These sharks are also obligate ram ventilators, meaning they must swim continuously forward to force oxygenated water over their gills to breathe. Restricted tank environments hinder this constant movement, leading to physiological stress and weakening.
Their migratory nature further complicates captivity, as they naturally travel hundreds or even thousands of miles across oceans. Confined spaces disrupt their inherent need for extensive movement and can cause disorientation, leading sharks to repeatedly collide with tank walls and sustain injuries. Great whites are also apex predators with specific dietary requirements, primarily hunting live prey. In captivity, they often refuse to eat dead fish, or struggle with appetite, leading to starvation. The artificial environment can also disrupt their highly sensitive electroreception, a sense they use to detect prey, causing severe stress.
Experiencing Great Whites Without an Aquarium
Since keeping great white sharks in aquariums is not feasible or ethical, many alternatives exist for learning about these creatures. Documentaries offer an immersive way to observe their natural behaviors, hunting strategies, and ecological roles in their vast ocean habitats. Films like “Blue Water, White Death” and various “Shark Week” productions provide deep insights into their lives.
Another option is ethical ecotourism, such as cage diving, allows for observation of great white sharks in their natural environment. While some cage diving operations use bait to attract sharks, responsible operators prioritize the welfare of the animals and provide educational experiences without negatively impacting their behavior. Locations like Guadalupe Island in Mexico are known for ethical practices where chumming is illegal. Additionally, supporting scientific research and conservation efforts, which often involve tagging and tracking studies, contributes to a deeper understanding and protection of these species in the wild.