Age and growth of the white shark, Carcharodon carcharias, in the western North Atlantic Ocean

Age and growth estimates for the white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) in the western North Atlantic Ocean (WNA) were derived from band pair counts on the vertebral centra of 81 specimens collected between 1963 and 2010. We used two previously published criteria to interpret band pairs and assessed the validity of each method using Δ14C levels from a recent bomb radiocarbon validation study and existing Δ14C reference chronologies in the WNA. Although both criteria produced age estimates consistent, to varying degrees, with different reference chronologies, only one was considered valid when life history information was used to select the appropriate reference chronology and minimum/maximum ages based on bomb carbon values were taken into consideration. These age estimates, validated up to 44 years, were used to develop a growth curve for the species, which was best described using the Schnute general model (sexes combined). These results indicate that white sharks grow more slowly and live longer than previously thought.