Small spotted catshark (Scyliorhinus canicula)
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 survive after being discarded, but many are kept for consumption. There are no catch limits or protection for the species, and they are currently listed as “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List for the Mediterranean.
