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EXPLORE > ANIMALS > FISH
Prionace glauca
The blue shark has a narrow, sleek body that starts with a long pointed snout. As its name implies, the shark’s skin is a deep blue color along the top of the body and a pale gray on the underside. This coloring is known as “countershading” and acts as a natural camouflage for many fish species that live and feed near the ocean’s surface. Blue sharks feed mostly on invertebrates including pelagic octopus, squid, cuttlefish, pelagic fish and occasionally seabirds.
Adult blue shark are rarely hunted by any marine species, although they are a frequent bycatch of the commercial fishing industry. Although they are edible to humans, their meat is not prized and they are usually rendered into other products including fishmeal. It is estimated that as many as 20 million blue sharks are inadvertently killed every year by fishermen.
Range and Habitat
The blue shark has an extremely wide global distribution and can be found in both the open sea and in coastal waters. It can be found all along the Oregon coast, living near the surface down to depths of 1,148 feet (350 m).
Conservation Status
The blue shark is currently on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as a threatened species.
Prionace glauca
The blue shark has a narrow, sleek body that starts with a long pointed snout. As its name implies, the shark’s skin is a deep blue color along the top of the body and a pale gray on the underside. This coloring is known as “countershading” and acts as a natural camouflage for many fish species that live and feed near the ocean’s surface. Blue sharks feed mostly on invertebrates including pelagic octopus, squid, cuttlefish, pelagic fish and occasionally seabirds.
Adult blue shark are rarely hunted by any marine species, although they are a frequent bycatch of the commercial fishing industry. Although they are edible to humans, their meat is not prized and they are usually rendered into other products including fishmeal. It is estimated that as many as 20 million blue sharks are inadvertently killed every year by fishermen.
Range and Habitat
The blue shark has an extremely wide global distribution and can be found in both the open sea and in coastal waters. It can be found all along the Oregon coast, living near the surface down to depths of 1,148 feet (350 m).
Conservation Status
The blue shark is currently on the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List as a threatened species.
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The Killer Rep:
Author and conservationist Ruth Musgrave discusses the global plight of the shark and how young people can make a difference for this imperiled species. |
