Top Mackerel Sharks,Porbeagles Not Elsewhere Included Fishing Countries

The porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus), a member of the mackerel shark family, is a robust, fast-swimming predator found in temperate and cold waters of the North Atlantic and Southern Hemisphere. Known for its high-quality flesh and fins, the porbeagle is a valuable target for commercial and recreational fisheries. The leading countries involved in the harvest of porbeagles (not elsewhere included in broader mackerel shark statistics) include Spain, Portugal, France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, with notable fisheries also operating in New Zealand and Japan. These nations utilize a variety of fishing methods, primarily longlining and gillnetting, to target porbeagles for both domestic consumption and international trade. Overfishing and slow reproductive rates have led to significant population declines, prompting management measures such as quotas and seasonal closures in several regions to ensure the sustainability of porbeagle stocks.

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