0. back
Dogfish, Spiny
(Wild-caught from Canadian Atlantic and U.S.)
Rating:
Spiny dogfish from British Columbia is the only dogfish species with a "Good Alternative" recommendation.
Market Names:
Dogfish, Rock, Rock Cod, Shark
Consumer Notes:
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 dogfish, due to elevated levels of mercury.
Summary:
Spiny dogfish is one of the slowest-growing and longest-lived of all shark species. Most sharks, including dogfish, are in serious decline throughout the world due to severe overfishing and accidental catch in other fisheries.
Spiny dogfish is fished in the U.S. Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Concerns about population status and bycatch in these fisheries results in an "Avoid" recommendation.
However, data from the spiny dogfish fishery of British Columbia indicate that the population in this region is stable. In addition, the B.C. fishery is 80 percent bottom-longline-caught, which has minimal habitat damage and low bycatch.
Spiny dogfish from B.C. is therefore considered a "Good Alternative," but consumers should avoid all other species of dogfish from all other regions.
0. back