On February 6, 2013, the California Fish and Game Commission (Commission) voted to make the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) a candidate for protection under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA).  The Commission determined that listing the species as threatened or endangered under CESA may be warranted, and initiated a one-year comprehensive review to evaluate the status of the species.  Based on this review, the Commission will make a final decision next year regarding whether to list the species.  The species will receive protection under CESA while the review is conducted.  As we reported here, the Commission’s decision is the result of a recommendation from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife to list the species.