The common thresher shark is easily identified by the unusually long upper lobe of its caudal tail. Such a lengthy fin allows the shark to herd and stun small schooling fish such as mackerels, bluefishes, needlefishes and lantern fishes. The common thresher shark is highly vulnerable to overfishing worldwide. An important economic species that is … Read more
The whale shark is the world’s largest fish, with an average length of 14-20 meters. Yet, their diet consists of one of the ocean’s smallest organisms — plankton. These filter-feeders can live to be 100 years old and may have up to 300 young per litter. A majority of whale sharks are caught before they … Read more
The Caribbean reef shark is found from the coast of North Carolina to the coast of Brazil, but not in European waters. As the name suggests, this species is found most often around corals reefs and is considered the most abundant reef shark in its region. The Caribbean reef shark is listed as “Near Threatened” by … Read more
The spiny dogfish, also known as the spurdog, is found within all of the world’s oceans. Spiny dogfish are caught for a variety of purposes which include: fish and chips, shark fin soup, fertilizers, liver oil, pet food and as a popular dissection specimen in academic science labs. A highly valued species in Europe, the … Read more
Blue sharks are one of the most wide-ranging and previously abundant shark species. Now, they are the most heavily fished shark in the world. An estimated 10-20 million individuals are killed by pelagic fisheries annually, mostly as bycatch. Blue shark meat is beginning to replace swordfish in many Mediterranean countries and the fins are commonly used in … Read more
These small sharks have a light colored body with black spots from nose to tail. Adults often school by sex and eggs are deposited on seaweed throughout the year. Small spotted catsharks are caught primarily as shark bycatch or secondary targeted catch in various artisanal and industrial fisheries, especially in the Mediterranean. Many of the sharks … Read more
This specie is not in European waters, it´s easily identified from other grey sharks by a black or dusky spot beneath the snout tip, the blacknose shark has an unusually fast growth rate. Blacknose sharks reach maturity in just two years and produce three to six young at a time. Currently, blacknose sharks are not … Read more
Today in Brussels the European Commission released the long-awaited Community Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks, nearly a decade after the adoption of the FAO International Plan of Action on Sharks. The Community Plan has been eagerly anticipated by conservationists, as many of Europe’s shark and related ray populations have been … Read more
Oceana released a new report today finding widespread malnutrition in commercial and recreational fish, marine mammals and seabirds because of the global depletion of the small fish they need to survive. These “prey fish” underpin marine food webs and are being steadily exhausted by heavy fishing, increasing demand for aquaculture feed, and climate change. … Read more
The EU Fisheries Council meeting today in Luxembourg has adopted the Council Conclusions on the EU Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks[1]. Oceana, the international marine conservation organisation, supports the statement of the EU Fisheries Ministers, which endorses the Plan while also urging it is implemented without delay. While the … Read more
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