Species Profile No. 42: The Pacific Angelshark (Squatina californica) Pacific angelsharks are found in a variety of habitats along the Pacific coast of North America. They tend to prefer soft-bottom habitats, where they can bury themselves in sediment to ambush their prey. They can be found in shallow bays, coral reefs, kelp forests, and even estuaries! Unlike many sharks, they tend to stay in a certain small, set area, rather than traveling wide distances. Pacific angelsharks are globally listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN. This species takes a long time to mature and reproduce, usually becoming sexually mature at 8-13 years. Females produce litters with an average of 6 pups once per year. Their population is currently declining. In 1976, California’s halibut fishery began targeting Pacific Angelsharks, fishing them for their meat. This led to an over-exploitation of the species, leading to catch limits in 1986, which was ineffective at recovering the population. A gillnet ban was eventually introduced in 1994, which stopped the California fishery. They are still caught as bycatch by shrimp trawlers in California, and are fished for in Mexico to meet the demand that is no longer being met by the California fishery. The Mexican fisheries are very poorly understood, and more research/management is needed. To help support angel sharks, make sure to support @angelsharkproject, the Angel Shark Conservation Network, Shark Advocates International, and the Shark Conservation Fund. ••• Big thanks to our Patron, Clay Herber! ••••••••••••••••••••••••• #angelsharkprofiles #shark #sharks #angelshark #pacificangelshark #squatina #diversesharks #sharkeducation #savesharks #savethesharks #helpsavesharks #bycatch #overfishing #stopoverfishing #replacefearwithfacts #stopsharkfinning https://www.instagram.com/p/B1otFDEhP-t/?igshid=1vphxt1qq6ns6
