Whitetip reef sharks are also vulnerable to predation from humans. They are fished commercially using line and trawl nets for tropical markets. Once abundant, whitetip reef shark numbers depleted noticeably from 1985 to 2005 due to overfishing in certain areas.Their shallow water habitats (33 to 131 feet/10 to 40 m) have made them susceptible to becoming bycatch in gillnet and longline fisheries, as well.Whitetip reef sharks are considered near threatened with extinction due to their small litter size, late age of maturity and coral reef habitat loss. Without proper, enforced fisheries management, this species may become threatened with extinction.