Top Tope Shark Fishing Countries

The tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus), also known as the school shark or soupfin shark, is a slender, medium-sized shark found in temperate coastal waters worldwide, particularly in the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean, southern Africa, Australia, New Zealand, and parts of South America. Prized for its meat, fins, and liver oil, the tope shark has been a significant target of commercial fisheries, especially in countries like the United Kingdom, Spain, New Zealand, and Argentina. In New Zealand and Australia, the species supports valuable export fisheries, while in the UK and Spain, it is both commercially and recreationally fished, often marketed as “rock salmon” or “flake.” Argentina also has a long history of harvesting tope sharks, especially for export. However, heavy fishing pressure has led to population declines in many regions, prompting management measures and conservation concerns, including listings on various threatened species lists in some countries.

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