Blue Shark

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Best Fish Guide: Blue Shark

 Ranking E (Red  - Avoid)

What's this? 

Description: Blue sharks, like most shark species, are slow growing and highly vulnerable to overfishing. A highly migratory species, Blue sharks are taken in large numbers in New Zealand’s tuna longline fisheries, mainly in the West and East Coast of the North Island from the Bay of Plenty north. Most of the blue sharks (more than 80%) are caught just for their highly priced fins, with the rest of the carcass dumped at sea.

Ecological concerns: Uncertainty about the state of the stocks, the bycatch of other sharks, seabirds and fur seals, limited research and the lack of a quantitative stock assessment or a management plan. Removal of this predatory species may also have considerable negative ecological implications.
Whilst there is no management plan for blue sharks, in 2008 a New Zealand National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks was developed. However, there are no specific conservation actions for blue sharks, nor is there any difference in its management from the status quo. The practise of shark finning, which is legal in New Zealand, is also enormously wasteful. Whilst there is no management plan for blue sharks, in 2008 a New Zealand National Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks was developed. However, there are no specific conservation actions for blue sharks, nor is there any difference in its management from the status quo.

Economic value: The primary value is in the highly priced fins (and tail), which are exported to East Asian markets.

ASSESSMENT OUTPUT

Biology and risk of overfishing (score D)
Status and sustainability of fish catches (score D)
Impact of fishing method and protected, threatened and endangered species captures (score D and E)
Management and management unit (score D and D)

For a full ecological assessment click  here