Spiny Dogfish

Q: Can you eat Spiny Dogfish?

Firm, lean white flesh with a mild flavor; a traditional component of British fish-and-chips under the name 'rock salmon.' Vulnerable status — sustainable sourcing is important.

Q: How big does Spiny Dogfish get?

Spiny Dogfish can grow up to 160.0 cm long and weigh 9.1 kg.

Q: Where is Spiny Dogfish found?

Cosmopolitan in cold to temperate shelf waters of the North Atlantic, North Pacific, Mediterranean, and Black Sea. Congregates in large schools on continental shelf and slope from intertidal to 900 m depth. Estuaries

Q: Is Spiny Dogfish endangered?

The conservation status of Spiny Dogfish is Vulnerable according to the IUCN Red List.

Q: What family does Spiny Dogfish belong to?

Spiny Dogfish (Squalus acanthias) belongs to the family Squalidae (Dogfish Sharks) in the order Squaliformes (Dogfish Sharks).

Abstract

Among the most abundant sharks in the world, the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) takes its name from the venomous spine set in front of each dorsal fin. It carries the longest known gestation period of any vertebrate, close to two years. Gray to brownish-gray above with a row of small white spots along each flank that fade with age, it is countershaded to a pale cream belly. The species is cosmopolitan in cold and temperate shelf waters of the North Atlantic, North Pacific, Mediterranean and Black Sea, congregating in large schools from the intertidal down to about 900 metres. Its firm, lean white flesh is the traditional 'rock salmon' of British fish-and-chips; the IUCN Red List assesses the species as Vulnerable.