The Top Barbeled Houndshark (*Leptocharias smithii*) is a small, slender shark species native to the eastern Atlantic coast of Africa, ranging from Mauritania to Angola. Recognizable by its elongated barbels near the nostrils, this shark inhabits shallow coastal waters and is often caught as bycatch in artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries. The fishing industry targeting or incidentally capturing the Top Barbeled Houndshark is predominantly based in West African countries such as Senegal, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, and Nigeria, where local communities rely on diverse marine resources for food and livelihoods. These sharks are typically harvested using gillnets and longlines, and their meat is consumed locally or sold in regional markets. Due to limited data and low economic value compared to other species, the Top Barbeled Houndshark is not the focus of large-scale industrial fishing, but ongoing exploitation by coastal nations raises concerns about its conservation status.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.