Female leopard sharks generally mate in early summer, and the pups are born live after a gestation period of 10 to 12 months.
The small leopard sharks that result often grow slowly, taking years to reach sexual maturity. This slow pace means that while they are commonly found today, local populations could be sensitive to environmental stress or intense fishing pressure.
Leopard sharks are collected for marine aquaria, targeted by small-scale commercial fisheries, and caught by recreational fishers.
However, groups like NOAA Fisheries and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife monitor these activities closely, especially in hotspots like San Francisco and southern California.
