Utilization of Deep-sea Sharks at Hatton Bank in the North Atlantic

The study describes the relative yield of consumption-and by-products from five deep-water sharks frequently caught in the fishery along the continental slopes of the north-eastern Atlantic Ocean. The species described are: leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus), Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis), black dogfish (Centroscyllium fabricii), longnose velvet dogfish (Centrosymnus crepidater) and birdbeak dogfish (Deania calcea). It is possible to utilize backs, fillets, belly flaps and tails as consumption products of the largest species, such as leafscale gulper shark and Portuguese dogfish. Backs and fillets from leafscale gulper shark have the highest relative yield, 26.1% and 20.6% of round weight, respectively. The belly flaps of the five species constitute 10% to 15.8% of the body weight. Liver is the most demanded by-product due to high oil, particularly squalene, content. The yield of liver varied from 18.3% to 26.2 % of round weight. Leafscale gulper shark had the highest average squalene content in liver oil of 65.5%. The findings indicate a potential for increased utilization for both consumption and by-products from deep-sea sharks.