Blue shark

The blue shark (*Prionace glauca*) is a pelagic requiem shark found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide.

The blue shark (Prionace glauca) is a pelagic requiem shark found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide. It is known for its slender body, deep blue upper colouration, and white underside. The species is listed as Near Threatened because of fishing pressure.

Description

The blue shark is a slender, streamlined shark with a long conical snout and long pectoral fins. Its back is dark blue, fading to a pale or white underside. Adults reach a maximum length of about 3.8 to 4 metres, making it one of the most recognisable oceanic sharks.

Distribution and habitat

This species is oceanic and highly migratory, living in temperate and tropical waters across the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. It is usually found from the surface to several hundred metres deep, with a reported depth range of up to about 350 m. Blue sharks occur in the North Atlantic and can be encountered in Canadian Atlantic waters, particularly offshore and seasonally in the broader Northwest Atlantic region.

Diet and behaviour

Blue sharks are active predators that feed mainly on squid and small fish. They also opportunistically take seabirds, carrion, crustaceans, and other small animals. They are known for wide-ranging movements across ocean basins.

Conservation

The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the blue shark as Near Threatened. Major pressures include targeted fishing and bycatch in commercial fisheries. The species is considered near threatened largely because of overfishing and bycatch.