PORBEAGLE SHARK

Lamna nasus (Bonnaterre, 1788)

 

Usual Size	Maximum length 300cm British Waters between 160/200cm
UK Record Weight	BOAT 507lb SHORE Vacant 40lb Qualifying Weight
Identification	Upper body surface varies from blue through to dark grey whilst the underside is usually white. Has a secondary longtitudial keel on either side of the tail which is not present on a Mako
Habitat	Found from the surface layers down Prefers water temperatures of below 19ºC Known to inhabit reefs and wrecks.
Range	Eastern Atlantic For the UK present of most of our coast- lines.
Food	Fish (Pollack, Cod, Ling, Coalfish, Bass, Hake, Mackerel Herring) and Squid.
Reproduction	Ovoviviparous (live bearing) Litter size usually between 2/4 pups - 50/75cm at birth. Female Porbeagles probably mature at 5 years old (length approximately - 200cm)
Additional Notes	Weight potential in the order of 700lbs. A second similar species is thought to exist, though not fully studied - Spotted Porbeagle.
References	A Field Guide to The Sharks of British Coastal Waters - Vas 1991 FAO Species Catalogue 4 - Sharks of The World - Compagno Fishes of the North-Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean - Whitehead, Bauchot, Hureau, Nielsen, Tortonese Key to the Fishes of Northern Europe - Wheeler