Top Caribbean Sharpnose Shark Fishing Countries

The Caribbean sharpnose shark (Rhizoprionodon porosus) is a small, slender shark species found in the warm coastal waters of the western Atlantic, particularly throughout the Caribbean Sea and along the northern coast of South America. Recognized for its pointed snout and maximum length of about 110 cm, this shark is often caught as bycatch in artisanal and small-scale commercial fisheries. The top countries involved in harvesting the Caribbean sharpnose shark include Venezuela, Brazil, and Trinidad and Tobago, where the species is landed primarily for local consumption and sometimes for export. These nations have well-established coastal fishing industries that target a variety of small sharks and rays, with the sharpnose shark being a common component of mixed-species catches. Overfishing and lack of species-specific management have raised concerns about the sustainability of these fisheries, prompting regional efforts to improve monitoring and conservation of this and other small coastal shark species.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.