The Birdbeak Dogfish (Deania calcea) is a deepwater shark species characterized by its long, slender snout and rough skin, commonly found at depths between 200 and 1,000 meters in temperate and subtropical oceans. This species is primarily targeted for its liver oil and, to a lesser extent, its meat. The top countries involved in the commercial harvesting of Birdbeak Dogfish are New Zealand, Portugal, and Spain, where deepwater trawl and longline fisheries operate. In New Zealand, the species is often caught as bycatch in deepwater fisheries targeting hoki and other species, while Portugal and Spain have developed directed fisheries for deepwater sharks, including the Birdbeak Dogfish, particularly in the Northeast Atlantic. These fisheries are subject to management measures due to concerns about the vulnerability of deepwater sharks to overfishing, given their slow growth and low reproductive rates.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New Zealand | 300 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.