Atlantic Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Also known as Thresher shark, Fox shark, Sea fox, Swingletail, Whiptail shark, Thintail shark
Culinary Profile
Mild flavor.
Firm and dense.
Shark is high in protein and low in fat. It is a good source of niacin, vitamins B6 and B12, phosphorus, and selenium.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Thresher sharks are brown, gray, blue-gray, or blackish on the back and underside of their snout. They are lighter on the sides, and fully white below. Their pectoral, pelvic, and dorsal fins are blackish, and there are sometimes white dots on the tips of the pectoral, pelvic, and tail fins. Their tail fin is sickle-shaped, and the upper part is extremely long, about half the length of their body.
Biology
Common thresher sharks live a long time (19 to 50 years), reproduce late in life, and have only a few young at a time. They grow slowly, but can reach up to 20 feet long. Males sexually mature when they’re 8 to 11 feet long and 3 to 6 years old. Females are able to reproduce when they’re 8 to 9 feet long and 4 to 5 years of age. Common thresher sharks mate in late summer.
Where They Live
Range Common thresher sharks are found in temperate waters around the world. In the northwest Atlantic Ocean, they range from Newfoundland to Cuba. Habitat Common thresher sharks are highly migratory species, often traveling over entire ocean basins. They’re most common near land and are often found in areas rich with plankton, where their prey is also abundant.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from New York to North Carolina.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
Commercial fishery: To commercially harvest Atlantic sharks, vessel owners must obtain a valid Atlantic shark directed or incidental limited access permit or a smoothhound shark open access permit. More information regarding limited access permits can be found in the Atlantic HMS fishery compliance guides . Most of this catch comes from New Jersey and North Carolina. Common thresher sharks are part of the pelagic shark complex. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Atlantic common thresher sharks are primarily caught incidentally in longline fisheries targeting swordfish and tuna. Gear used to catch common thresher sharks does not impact habitat since it does not contact the ocean floor.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Atlantic Common Thresher Shark ranks against the rest of the catalogue on each of USDA FoodData Central's per-100 g nutrient measures.
| Nutrient | Value | Rank | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Choline | 65 mg | 12 / 65 | 82% |
| Protein | 20.98 g | 13 / 111 | 88% |
| Omega-3 EPA | 316 mg | 17 / 104 | 84% |
| Omega-3 DHA | 527 mg | 21 / 104 | 80% |
| Selenium | 36.5 µg | 32 / 106 | 70% |
| Iron | 0.84 mg | 32 / 111 | 71% |
| Vitamin D | 0.6 IU | 45 / 54 | 17% |
| Phosphorus | 210 mg | 48 / 111 | 57% |
| Vitamin B12 | 1.49 µg | 56 / 106 | 47% |
| Zinc | 0.43 mg | 71 / 111 | 36% |
Other New England/Mid-Atlantic Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Atlantic Common Thresher Shark.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Blacktip Shark
Carcharhinus limbatus
Sweet, meaty taste.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Atlantic Herring
Clupea harengus
Small fresh herring have a more delicate flavor, while larger herring have a fuller, oilier flavor.
Atlantic Mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Mackerel has a rich, pronounced flavor. For a milder flavor, cut out the outer bands of dark meat along the midline.
Atlantic Mahi Mahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahi mahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away darker portions of the meat.
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Reported to be quite tasty.
Atlantic Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Mild and sweet.
Atlantic Striped Bass
Morone saxatilis
Both wild-caught and farmed striped bass have a slightly sweet flavor.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Atlantic Common Thresher Shark, these other species in the catalogue will feel familiar on the palate.
Acadian Redfish
Sebastes fasciatus
Mild and slightly sweet. Redfish can be used as a substitute for haddock and similar fish.
Alaska Pollock
Gadus chalcogrammus
Pollock has mild-tasting flesh and is similar to other white fish like cod or haddock.
American Lobster
Homarus americanus
Mild and sweet.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Atlantic Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfintuna. Sashimi lovers prefer it.
Atlantic Cod
Gadus morhua
Atlantic cod has a mild clean flavor. It is sweeter than Pacific cod.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Atlantic Common Thresher Shark a good source of omega-3 fatty acids?
Per 100 g raw, Atlantic Common Thresher Shark supplies 316 mg of EPA and 527 mg of DHA — the two long-chain omega-3s most cited in cardiovascular research.
How should Atlantic Common Thresher Shark be cooked?
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark has Firm and dense. — suited to gentle methods that preserve moisture (poaching, sous-vide, low-heat roasting) as much as high-heat techniques (grilling, searing), depending on thickness of the cut.
Where is Atlantic Common Thresher Shark found?
Range Common thresher sharks are found in temperate waters around the world. In the northwest Atlantic Ocean, they range from Newfoundland to Cuba. Habitat Common thresher sharks are highly migratory species, often traveling over entire ocean basins. They’re most common near land and are often found in areas rich with plankton, where their prey is also abundant.
How deep does Atlantic Common Thresher Shark live?
Atlantic Common Thresher Shark inhabits depths of 8 to 11 feet. Range Common thresher sharks are found in temperate waters around the world. In the northwest Atlantic Ocean, they range from Newfoundland to Cuba. Habitat Common thresher sharks are highly migratory species, often traveling over entire ocean basins.…
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic common thresher shark is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
The Atlantic common thresher shark has never been assessed and the overfished status and overfishing status are unknown. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas conducted an ecological risk assessment for pelagic sharks caught in Atlantic pelagic longline fisheries and ranked thresher sharks as the least vulnerable to these fisheries and more product…
Population
The population level is unknown, but management measures are in place.
Fishing Rate
Overfishing status is unknown, but management measures are in place.
Habitat Impacts
Gear used to harvest Atlantic common thresher shark does not contact the ocean floor and has no impact on habitat.
Bycatch
Bycatch is low because Atlantic common thresher sharks are primarily incidental catch in other fisheries.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division manage the Atlantic common thresher shark fishery in the United States. Managed under the Consolidated Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan : Permits are required, and only a limited number of permits are available.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 21 values
Energy
Macronutrients
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Vitamins
Minerals
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy). %DV is percent of 2,000-kcal daily value for adults.
calendar_month Harvest Season
Frozen available year-round.