Sixgill Sharks Mature Later Than Many Humans Reach Middle Age

This shark can take decades just to reach adulthood.

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Deep-sea sharks are generally among the slowest-growing fish in the ocean.

Research suggests that sixgill sharks mature slowly, with females not reaching reproductive age until their late teens or even later. In deep, cold environments, slow growth and delayed maturity are survival strategies.

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💥 Impact (click to read)

Such delayed reproduction makes sixgills vulnerable to overfishing, because populations recover far more slowly than fast-growing coastal sharks. Removing mature individuals can erase decades of growth.

A predator that survives crushing depths for decades can be undone in years by human extraction. Their life history highlights the fragile balance between deep-sea longevity and modern fishing pressure.

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