The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is a species of requiem shark, in the family Carcharhinidae, that inhabits deep waters in the world's temperate and tropical oceans. Preferring cooler waters, blue sharks migrate long distances, such as from New England to South America. The species is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
Salinity | Marine |
Depth | From 1 to 1000 meters |
Length | 400 cm |
Max Weight | 205.9 cm |
Red List | Near threatened |
Threat to Human | Traumatogenic |
Synonyms | |
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Carcharhinus macki, Carcharinus glaucus, Glyphis glaucus, Hypoprion isodus, Prionace mackiei, Prionacea glauca, Thalassinus rondeletii, Thalassinus rondeletti, Thalassinus rondelettii, Thalassorhinus vulpecula, Galeus thalassinus, Carcharias aethiops, Carcharias glaucus, Carcharias gracilis, Carcharias hirundinaceus, Carcharias pugae, Squalus adscensionis, Squalus caeruleus, Squalus glaucus, Squalus rondeletii |
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Local names | |
Albania | Peshkagen, Peshkagen jeshil, Peshkaqeni blu, Peshkaqeni jeshil, Peshkaqen jeshil |
This abundant pelagic and oceanic shark is widespread in temperate and tropical waters. It is relatively fast-growing and fecund, maturing in 4–6 years and producing average litters of 35 pups. The Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) is taken in large numbers (an estimated 20 million individuals annually), mainly as bycatch, but there are no population estimates and many catches are unreported. The few fishery assessments carried out suggest relatively little population decline. There is concern over the removal of such large numbers of this likely keystone predator from the oceanic ecosystem.