Review of US west coast commercial shark fisheries

Abstract

The economic history of elasmobranch fisheries generally indicates the need for a high catch per unit of effort because of fluctuating commercial value and market demand. Growth and reproduction in most elasmobranch species are extremely slow, and as a result there is a close relationship between stock size and recruitment. Because of this relationship, only a small amount of that stock is available to support a sustained fishery. The increased demand for shark as a food fish has put tremendous fishing pressure on some species. Two of these, the common thresher, Alopias vulpinus, and Pacific angel shark, Squatina californica, have not responded well to this increased pressure. Several other stocks appear healthy even though some warning signs of overfishing are appearing. The need for reduced fishing on some stocks and increased monitoring of catch for others is warranted. -Author