French Polynesia is home to several species of sharks. Common species include the blacktip shark, the grey reef shark, and the lemon shark.
List of the Different Types of Sharks in French Polynesia
| Species | Maximum Size | Aggressiveness |
| Black Fin Reef Shark | 5.5-6.5 feet | Not aggressive |
Blacktip Reef Shark |
3-4 feet | Moderately aggressive (if provoked) |
| Blacktip Shark | 5-8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Galapagos Shark |
9.8-12 feet | Highly aggressive |
| Great Hammerhead Shark | 15-20 feet | Highly aggressive |
Gray Reef Shark |
4-5 feet | Highly aggressive |
Lemon Shark |
9-10 feet | Not aggressive |
Longfin Mako Shark |
12-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
Nurse Shark |
7-8 feet | Not aggressive |
| Oceanic Whitetip Shark | 10-13 feet | Highly aggressive |
Shortfin Mako Shark |
6.5-9.5 feet | Highly aggressive |
Silvertip Shark |
6.6-9.8 feet | Moderately aggressive |
Thresher Shark |
10-18 feet | Not aggressive |
Tiger Shark |
10-14 feet | Highly aggressive |
Whitetip Reef Shark |
3-5.5 feet | Moderately aggressive (only when provoked) |
Recent Cases of Shark Attacks in French Polynesia >>
FAQs
1. Have there been shark attacks in French Polynesia?
While there weren’t any attacks between 1972 and 2002 – three decades – there has been an increase in human-shark interactions leading to more attacks. Most of these seem to have occurred due to activities like surfing, diving, and kiteboarding which bring humans further into shark territory.
