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Seafood Watch - Seafood Guide

Shark

SEAFOOD	RATING	MARKET NAMES	WHERE CAUGHT	HOW CAUGHT
Shark		Shark, Rock Cod	Worldwide	Wild-caught
Spiny Dogfish		Shark, Dogfish, Rock, Rock Cod	British Columbia	Bottom Longline
Spiny Dogfish		Shark, Dogfish, Rock	Except B.C.	Wild-caught

Shark

Most shark populations worldwide are at historically low levels due to serious overfishing.

Consumer Note

Many species are caught and sold under the generic name "shark." Dogfish

shark is sometimes used as a substitute for cod in fish and chips and is sold as “rock".

Health Alert

Environmental Defense Fund has issued a health advisory for all shark species (including dogfish) due to elevated levels of mercury.

Summary

Scientists estimate that 100 million sharks are caught and killed each year. Since sharks mature slowly and give birth to a few young at a time, most sharks do not reproduce quickly enough to keep up with the intense level of fishing and accidental catch.

Half of all the sharks killed each year are caught accidentally in fishing gear intended for other fish. Additionally, gillnets or longlines used to target sharks can catch endangered marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds.

Many sharks are killed just for their fins for traditional delicacies like shark-fin soup. The fins are cut off and the animals are thrown overboard to die. Shark finning is banned in some countries including the U.S., but still happens in many fisheries worldwide.

Recipe Alternatives
Farmed sturgeon and Pacific halibut are your "Best Choices."

Scientific Reports About Our Ratings

Gillnetting Fact Card
Longlining Fact Card
Sharks and Dogfish Seafood Watch Report
Sharks Fact Card

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How fish are caught or farmed makes a difference.

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Celebrating 25 Years of Ocean Conservation