The Top Sawback Angelshark (*Squatina aculeata*) is a rare and critically endangered species of angelshark found in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. Characterized by its flattened body and distinct saw-like thorns along its back, this bottom-dwelling shark inhabits sandy and muddy substrates at depths typically ranging from 30 to 500 meters. Historically, the Sawback Angelshark was caught as bycatch in trawl, gillnet, and longline fisheries, particularly by countries bordering the Mediterranean such as Spain, Italy, Greece, and Turkey, as well as along the West African coast including Morocco and Mauritania. However, due to drastic population declines from overfishing and habitat degradation, targeted fisheries for this species have largely ceased, and it is now protected or subject to strict regulations in many regions. Despite these measures, incidental capture still occurs, making these countries historically significant in the context of Sawback Angelshark exploitation.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.