At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Fish
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The porbeagle is a powerful, warm-bodied shark related to the great white and mako. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
Heavy fishing for its valued meat caused steep declines.
Range & habitat
Cold and temperate waters of the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Overfishing for meat and fins
- Bycatch
- A low reproductive rate
Why it matters
A warm-bodied open-water shark depleted by fishing, the porbeagle is a case study in managing slow-reproducing sharks toward recovery.
Sources
Sources for Porbeagle
- IUCN Red List — look up Porbeagle (authoritative status)
- FishBase
Frequently Asked Questions
How is the porbeagle related to other sharks?
It belongs to the mackerel shark family alongside the great white and mako, and like them it is warm-bodied, which helps power its active swimming in cold seas.
Why is the porbeagle Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite overfishing for its valuable meat and fins, bycatch, and a low reproductive rate. See the IUCN Red List for the current assessment.
Last updated: