The oceanic whitetip shark is mainly solitary and swims slowly, and is usually seen cruising near the top of the water column, covering large amounts of empty water, searching for prey or any food source. Until the 16th century, sharks were known to mariners as "sea dogs". The oceanic whitetip shark, the most common ship-following shark, shows dog-like behaviour when it is attracted by something which appears to be food. It starts swimming greedily towards the food source, approaches cautiously but stubbornly. It keeps a safe distance if driven off, but is ready to rush in if the opportunity presents itself. Oceanic whitetip sharks are not fast swimmers, but they are capable of surprising bursts of speed. They commonly compete for food with silky sharks, often presenting aggressive displays. There does not seem to be segregation by gender and size. Oceanic whitetip sharks usually follow schools of tuna or squid, and trail groups of dolphins and pilot whales, scavenging their prey.
The oceanic whitetip shark feeds mainly on bony fish, including lancetfish, oarfish, barracuda, jacks, dolphinfish, marlin, tuna, mackerels, and threadfins. Other prey consists of stingrays, sea turtles, sea birds, gastropods, squid, crustaceans, and mammalian carrion (dead whales and dolphins). Feeding behaviour has been reported for this shark and includes biting into schools of bony fish. It also swims through schools of feeding tuna with wide-open jaws, into which the tuna unknowingly swim. The oceanic whitetip shark has also been observed eating garbage that is disposed of at sea. If other species of sharks are encountered by the oceanic whitetip shark during feeding activities, the whitetip becomes aggressive and dominates over them.
In the north-western Atlantic and the south-western Indian Ocean, the oceanic whitetip shark has been known to mate during the early summer. After a gestation period lasting around 1 year, the females give birth to around 1-15 pups. The oceanic whitetip shark is viviparous, and both genders reach maturity around the ages of 6-7 years, with the females being at a length of 1.8-2 metres (5.9-6.6 feet), and the males being at a length of 1.7-1.9 metres (5.6-6.2 feet). The young are around 60-65 cm long at birth.
Oceanic whitetip sharks are usually caught by shark fisheries. The meat is marketed fresh, frozen, smoked, and dried-salted for human consumption, the skin is used for leather, the fins used in shark-fin soup, and the liver oil is used for vitamins. It is also processed into fishmeals. Tuna fishermen dislike the oceanic whitetip shark as it has been known to follow tuna boats and damage or consume catches. Although this species is usually seen offshore, it is considered to be dangerous. It is usually the first species to be seen in waters surrounding mid-ocean disasters. During World War II, the "Nova Scotia", a steamship, was sunk by torpedoes from a German submarine off the coast of South Africa. Close to 1,000 men were on board, however only 192 survived. It was believed that many of the fatalities were victims of the oceanic whitetip shark in what eyewitness accounts described as a feeding frenzy.
In encounters with divers, ocean whitetip sharks have shown little fear, and usually investigate and circle around the ongoing activities. Due to this shark's opportunistic feeding habits and strong jaws, as well as its boldness and unpredictability around divers, this shark should be treated with extreme caution. Many attacks are caused when divers accidentally bump into the shark.
Although this species is listed as 'vulnerable' overall, it has been listed as 'critically endangered' by the IUCN in the north-western and western-central Atlantic. This is due to the massive decline in reported catches indicating that the population has decreased.
Uppsala Municipality
Uppsala Municipality () is a municipality in Uppsala County in central Sweden. The seat is in Uppsala.
Karlskoga Municipality
Karlskoga Municipality () is a municipality in Värmland County in central Sweden. The seat is in Karlskoga.
Västerås Municipality
Västerås Municipality () is a municipality in Västmanland County in central Sweden. The seat is in Västerås.
Örebro Municipality
Örebro Municipality () is a municipality in Örebro County in central Sweden. The seat is in Örebro.
Malmö Municipality
Malmö Municipality () is a municipality in Skåne County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Malmö.
Kiruna Municipality
Kiruna Municipality () is a municipality in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden. The seat is in Kiruna.
Timrå Municipality
Timrå Municipality () is a municipality in Västernorrland County in northern Sweden. The seat is in Timrå.
Skellefteå Municipality
Skellefteå Municipality () is a municipality in Västerbotten County in central Sweden. The seat is in Skellefteå.
Söderhamn Municipality
Söderhamn Municipality () is a municipality in Gävleborg County in northern Sweden. The seat is in Söderhamn.
Härnösand Municipality
Härnösand Municipality () is a municipality in Västernorrland County in northern Sweden. The seat is in Härnösand.
Luleå Municipality
Luleå Municipality () is a municipality in Norrbotten County in northern Sweden. The seat is in Luleå.
Gävle Municipality
Gävle Municipality () is a municipality in Gävleborg County in northern Sweden. The seat is in Gävle.
Mora Municipality
Mora Municipality () is a municipality in Dalarna County in central Sweden. The seat is in Mora.
Falun Municipality
Falun Municipality () is a municipality in Dalarna County in central Sweden. The seat is in Falun.
Nyköping Municipality
Nyköping Municipality () is a municipality in Södermanland County in central Sweden. The seat is in Nyköping.
Södertälje Municipality
Södertälje Municipality () is a municipality in Södermanland County in central Sweden. The seat is in Södertälje.
Kristianstad Municipality
Kristianstad Municipality () is a municipality in Skåne County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Kristianstad.
Kalmar Municipality
Kalmar Municipality () is a municipality in Kalmar County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Kalmar.
Växjö Municipality
Växjö Municipality () is a municipality in Kronoberg County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Växjö.
Nässjö Municipality
Nässjö Municipality (, Nässjö kommun) is a municipality in Jönköping County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Nässjö.
Borgholm Municipality
Borgholm Municipality () is a municipality. It is on the northern part of the island of Öland. The seat is in Borgholm. The municipality is a part of Kalmar County.
Mörbylånga Municipality
Mörbylånga Municipality () is a municipality on the Swedish island of Öland. It consists of the southern part of the island. The seat is in Mörbylånga. The municipality is a part of Kalmar County.
Motala Municipality
Motala Municipality () is a municipality in Östergötland County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Motala.
Norrköping Municipality
Norrköping Municipality () is a municipality in Östergötland County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Norrköping.
Linköping Municipality
Linköping Municipality () is a municipality in Östergötland County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Linköping.
Lidköping Municipality
Lidköping Municipality () is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Lidköping.
Karlskrona Municipality
Karlskrona Municipality () is a municipality in Blekinge County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Karlskrona.
Gothenburg Municipality
Gothenburg Municipality () is a municipality in Västra Götaland County in southern Sweden. The seat is in Gothenburg.
Fingerboard