Top Sharpnose Sevengill Shark Fishing Countries

The Top Sharpnose Sevengill Shark (*Heptranchias perlo*) is a small, deepwater shark distinguished by its seven gill slits and slender body, typically inhabiting continental slopes and deep-sea environments worldwide. This species is targeted and caught mainly as bycatch in deep-sea trawl and longline fisheries rather than through directed fisheries. The primary countries harvesting the Top Sharpnose Sevengill Shark include Spain, Portugal, Japan, and New Zealand, where deep-sea fishing fleets operate in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. The meat, fins, and liver oil are occasionally utilized, but the species is often discarded due to low commercial value. Despite its broad distribution, overfishing and slow reproductive rates have raised conservation concerns, leading to increased monitoring and management efforts in many regions.

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