The porbeagle shark, Lamna nasus is a large powerfully built species that prowls the cold waters of both North Atlantic and Northern Pacific Oceans. Known for its quickness and nimbleness, this shark is a ferocious predator with the ability to chase down prey and easily slip past them.
A Solitary Hunter
Porbeagles, unlike many other species of shark,… are thought to be solitary hunters. Most of their time they roam the open sea in search of food. These characteristics allow them to swim quickly in the water, hunting effectively.
A Diverse Diet
Opportunistic feeders, Porbeagles eat diverse prey. There, the usual fare for these sharks are bony fish, such as mackerel and herring; cephalopods (squid and octopus) tend to fill in other dietary requirements. Another prey item are more modest porbeagles and other sharks.
A Threatened Species
Their size and power is more than impressive, but unfortunately because of they are at serious risk due to overfishing. Their size, value and growth rate sensitivities make them particularly susceptible to overfishing. Habitat degradation, as well as impacts of climate change maintain their doom further.
Conservation Efforts
A series of conservation measures have been implemented or proposed in a bid to safeguard porbeagles, as well other species (such as the handful listed above).
1 Sustainable Fishing Practices: Encourage the use of sustainable fishing gear, selective fishery and harvest strategies to reduce bycatch as well as reduce fishing quotas to prevent degradation of marine ecosystems.
Designating Marine Protected Areas: Designation of marine protected areas to protect essential habitats and provide a buffer against human impacts on the ocean.
Conspiracy Co-operation: Adherence to international agreements, regulations and measures aimed at combatting IUU fishing;
Public Awareness: Educating the public about marine conservation, and specific threats to sharks or other marine life.
Understanding the one of a kind ecological role these porbeagles play in our ecosystem, along with their challenges and how we can take them on are some key questions for us to answer now if we hope to see this predator prevail and persist through time. By fishing responsibly, keeping habitats.