Pale Ghost Shark/Pearl

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Best Fish Guide: Pale Ghost Shark/Pearl

 Ranking: E (Red - Worst Choice)

What's this? 

 Description: As with the dark ghost shark, this species is a slow growing deepwater shark that is found throughout New Zealand’s offshore waters. It has soft skin that is easily damaged. It is caught almost entirely as a bycatch of other target trawl fisheries operating around the Chatham Rise and in southern waters, most notably the hoki fishery, but also the silver warehou, arrow squid and barracouta fisheries.

Ecological concerns: There is a lack of some basic biological data on pale ghost sharks, little directed research and no quantitative stock assessment (resulting in unknown sustainability of current catch limits). Also of concern is the possible dumping of catches in past years. Habitat damage is caused by trawling and, as a bycatch species of other fisheries, it is associated with seabird, marine mammal and other non-target fish bycatch.
Whilst there is no management plan for pale ghost 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 ghost sharks, nor is there any difference in its management from the status quo.

Economic value: Ghost sharks are exported to Australia, with the shark fins being exported to Asia, at a value of around $2 million.

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 E and C)
Management and management unit (score E and C)

For a full ecological assessment, click here