Pelagic (open-ocean) Sharks

Landings | Management and Regulations | Projects and Publications

Pelagic (open-ocean) sharks caught off California include shortfin mako, common thresher, and blue sharks. All sharks are cartilaginous fish, meaning their skeletal structure is composed of cartilage rather than calcareous bone. Sharks are long-lived, take a long time to mature, and generally have very few offspring; thus conservation is very important in management of the fishery. Sharks are targeted for commercial and recreational purposes.

For additional life history information, click on one of the shark species below:

• Thresher
• Bonito
• Blue

Landings

• CDFW Annual Landings

Management and Regulations

• CDFW Commercial Fishing Information
• CDFW Recreational Fishing Regulations
• CPS/HMS Project Staff Profiles
• Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan
  Links to Pacific Fishery Management Council website
• Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Information
  Links to Pacific Fishery Management Council website

Projects and Publications

• HMS Stock Assessments
  Links to Pacific Fishery Management Council website
• California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigation (CalCOFI)
  Links to CalCOFI website
• California's Status of the Fisheries Reports
• National Marine Fisheries Service: Highly Migratory Species Program
  Links to National Marine Fisheries Service website