PORBEAGLE SHARK Background

The porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) is a cold-temperate species that occurs in the north Atlantic, south Atlantic and south Pacific oceans. The species range extends from Newfoundland to New Jersey and possibly to South Carolina in the west Atlantic and from Iceland and the western Barents Sea to Madeira and Morocco and into the Mediterranean in the east Atlantic. In the northwest Atlantic, this pelagic shark inhabits inshore and offshore waters colder than 16°C, and is commonly seen in the 10-14°C range. Porbeagle sharks move onto the Scotian Shelf in late spring and into the Gulf of St. Lawrence and onto the Grand Banks during the summer and early fall. Segregation occurs by sex and size. There is evidence to suggest that mating occurs in September- November on the Grand Banks. Porbeagle move into deeper water in late fall an