The little gulper shark (Centrophorus uyato) is a small, deep-water dogfish shark found in temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, particularly along continental slopes. Characterized by its slender body and large, greenish eyes adapted for low-light environments, this species is often caught as bycatch in deep-sea trawl and longline fisheries targeting other species. The primary countries involved in the fishing and harvesting of little gulper sharks include Spain, Portugal, Italy, and some North African nations, particularly Morocco. These countries, with fleets operating in the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean, land little gulper sharks for their meat and, notably, their liver oil, which is rich in squalene. Overfishing and the species’ slow reproductive rate have led to significant population declines, prompting conservation concerns and the implementation of stricter management measures in some regions.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.