Atlantic Sharpnose Shark
Rhizoprionodon terraenovae
Also known as Newfoundland shark, Sharp-nosed shark, White shark
Culinary Profile
Reported to be quite tasty.
Shark is a low-fat source of protein that is high in selenium and vitamins B6 and B12.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Atlantic sharpnose sharks are small for sharks and have a streamlined body. They get their name from their long, pointy snout. They are several different shades of gray and have a white underside. Adults have white spots on their sides and white along the edges of their pectoral fins. Young sharks have black on their dorsal (back) and caudal (tail) fin edges.
Biology
Atlantic sharpnose sharks can grow to up to 32 inches in length. They grow and mature at different rates in the Atlantic and Gulf of America. Females mature at around 2 years old in the Atlantic when they reach approximately 24 inches in length, and at around 1.3 years old in the Gulf of America when they are approximately 25 inches in length. Atlantic sharpnose sharks have been observed to live up to 18 years.
Where They Live
Range Atlantic sharpnose sharks are commonly found in the western Atlantic from New Brunswick, Canada through the Gulf of America and are commonly caught in U.S. waters from Virginia to Texas. Habitat Atlantic sharpnose sharks live in both warm-temperate and tropical waters, from the Bay of Fundy to the Yucatan. They can be found as deep as 920 feet, but mostly remain in waters less than 32 feet deep.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Fresh year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Virginia to Texas.
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 commercial compliance guide . Atlantic sharpnose shark belong to the small coastal shark (SCS) complex. For SCS sharks, there is no retention limit per vessel per trip for commercial fishermen with a directed permit. They are harvested primarily off the east coast of Florida and North Carolina. Their meat is sold as seafood and also used by fishermen as bait for other larger species of shark.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Atlantic Sharpnose 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 Sharpnose 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 Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Mild flavor.
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 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where in the water column does Atlantic Sharpnose Shark live?
Range Atlantic sharpnose sharks are commonly found in the western Atlantic from New Brunswick, Canada through the Gulf of America and are commonly caught in U.S. waters from Virginia to Texas. Habitat Atlantic sharpnose sharks live in both warm-temperate and tropical waters, from the Bay of Fundy to the Yucatan.
Is Atlantic Sharpnose Shark a lean fish or a rich one?
At 130 kcal per 100 g raw, Atlantic Sharpnose Shark counts as moderate on the fattiness spectrum — useful context when deciding cooking method (lean species suit poaching; rich species hold up to high-heat sear).
How deep does Atlantic Sharpnose Shark live?
Atlantic Sharpnose Shark inhabits depths of 16 to 32 feet. Range Atlantic sharpnose sharks are commonly found in the western Atlantic from New Brunswick, Canada through the Gulf of America and are commonly caught in U.S. waters from Virginia to Texas.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic sharpnose shark is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are two stocks of Atlantic sharpnose shark: Atlantic and Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico). According to the most recent stock assessments: The Atlantic stock is not overfished and not subject to overfishing (2013). Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stocks are not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishing gears used to harvest Atlantic sharpnose shark have minimal impacts on habitat.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Atlantic Highly Migratory Species Division manage the Atlantic sharpnose shark fishery. Managed under the Consolidated Highly Migratory Species Fishery Management Plan : Permits are required, and only a limited number of permits are available. Commercial quotas and limits on how many sharks can be landed per fishing trip.
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.