SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — They are the most feared predator in the ocean, but the state of California thinks great white sharks might need a little protection of their own.

The Fish and Game Commission will consider Wednesday whether to advance the candidacy of the giant sharks to the California Endangered Species list, which immediately will enact protections during a yearlong review.

State studies estimate the number of a California subspecies of the great white at 220. Their main cause of death is fishing nets.

The conservation group Oceana petitioned the commission, along with two other groups, to consider the listing. Fish and Wildlife staff recommended making the sharks a candidate.

Commercial fishermen say listing the shark will make it more difficult to fish and American consumers will have to rely on imports.