Captured Species
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Photo	Names
Illustrations by Chris Van Dusen Images Courtesy of Seafood Business Magazine	Latin: Squalus acanthias French: Aiguillat German: Dornhai Spanish: Galludo Russian: Katran Japanese: Abura-tsuno-zame

Description

The spiny dogfish is marketed in the United States under the name cape shark. It is marketed in Great Britain under the name rock salmon. The name "spiny" originates from spines located on the front of each dorsal fin. Dogfish, like other sharks, do not have a skeletal system composed of bone, but rather of cartilage. Also like sharks, the dogfish lacks a urinary tract. Urine in dogfish collects in the bloodstream and is then secreted through the skin. Because of this captured dogfish must be bled quickly and dressed otherwise the uric acid in the blood will contaminate the meat.

Markets	Commercial Aspects
Exporting Countries Capture: United States, Canada, Great Britain, Norway Primary Consumers Great Britain, Germany, Asia	About 50,000 tons of dogfish are harvested annually worldwide. The United States harvests about 20,000 tons annually.

Production Trends	Diet/Health Info
United States stocks of dogfish are considered to be fully utilized. Overall the size of dogfish harested has been decreasing, a sign that current stocks are stressed, with the potential for decreased harvests in the future.	Because the blood of dogfish contains uric acid, dogfish must be bled immediately after capture to avoid contamination of the meat.

The Global Supply

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