Capture of a Blue Shark Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758) (Chondrichthyes: Charcharhinidae) by a Swordfish Longliner off Fethiye (Mediterranean Sea, Turkey)

Abstract

On 25 December 2012, a specimen of Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758) was caught by a swordfish longliner along with 9 swordfish together off Fethiye at a depth of 1200 m. The specimen caught was measured as TL and weighed (kg), and photographed. The specimen was 85 cm TL and 7 kg. According to the previous studies, blue sharks especially observed abundantly in northern Aegean Sea, and can be accepted very rare incidental catch from the Turkish coasts owing to weak presuppose of swordfish fishery. However, there is an important place of blue sharks in the global fin trade area. Therefore, population trend of this shark species is swift decreasing.

Keywords

• blue shark
• carcharhanidae
• floating longline
• incidental catch
• fethiye coast