Biology and Management of Dogfish Sharks

31. The Evolution and Management of Spiny Dogfish (Spurdog) Fisheries in the Northeast Atlantic

Michael Pawson, James Ellis, and Helen Dobby

doi: https://doi.org/10.47886/9781934874073.ch32

Abstract.—This paper summarizes the history of the fisheries that have exploited spiny dogfish Squalus acanthias (also known as spurdog) in the northeast Atlantic since the early 20th century, describes the species’ stock structure, and indicates through recent assessments that the stock of spiny dogfish is severely depleted. We review the background to the management of elasmobranch fisheries in European seas, discuss the reasons why there has been a lack of effective management of the dogfish fishery, and suggest measures that might be used to aid stock recovery.