The Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus) is a large, slow-moving deep-sea shark found in the North Pacific Ocean, known for its soft, flabby body and ability to inhabit depths down to 2,000 meters. This species is primarily caught as bycatch in deep-sea fisheries targeting other species, such as Greenland turbot and sablefish, rather than through directed fisheries. The top countries involved in harvesting Pacific sleeper sharks include the United States (particularly Alaska), Russia (in the Russian Far East), and Japan, where they are sometimes utilized for their liver oil and meat, though market demand is limited. The fishing industry for Pacific sleeper sharks is relatively small and largely unregulated, with most catches being incidental; however, there is growing concern about the vulnerability of this slow-growing species to overexploitation, prompting calls for better monitoring and management.
| Rank | Country | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Australia | 10 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.