BLUE SHARK

Prionace glauca (Linnaeus, 1758)

USUAL SIZE: 383cm although off the IRISH COAST a possible maximum of 230cm

 

IDENTIFICATION: Upper body cobalt blue with a white under belly. The long pectoral fins allow this Shark to glide along in ocean currents.

BREEDING:

1. Placentally viviparous (live bearing)
2. Litters from 4/135, usually 20/30. Female Blue sharks do not mature until they are 5 years old (length approximately 220cm) - and probably do not breed for the first time until they are 7 years old.
3. Young born at 40cm, though gravid females are rarely encountered in Irish waters.

HABITAT:

1. Coastal/Offshore species from the surface down to 150m
2. To be found in relatively cool waters of 14ºC up to waters as warm as 21ºC

FOOD: Squid, Mackerel, Herring, Pilchards, Sprats and some bottom living species.

RANGE: The most wide ranging of all the Sharks. To be found in ,most temperate and tropical waters around the world.

During very warm summers found in small numbers around Scotland and into the North Sea.

 

The stocks off the eastern sea-board of America appear to be mature fish

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