Atlantic Spiny Dogfish
Squalus acanthias
Also known as Dogfish shark, Cape dogfish, Cape shark, Spring dogfish, Spiked dogfish, Grayfish, Spur dog, Piked dogfish
Culinary Profile
Mild and sweet.
Flaky but firm. It has higher oil content than mako or other sharks.
Shark is a low-fat source of protein and is high in selenium and vitamins B6 and B12.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Spiny dogfish are slim, with a narrow, pointed snout and characteristic white spots. They are gray above and white below. They have two dorsal fins with ungrooved large spines. Males grow up to 3.3 feet, and females grow up to 4 feet.
Biology
Like all sharks, dogfish grow slowly, mature late in life, and live a long time (35 to 40 years). Females grow larger and mature later than males—they’re first able to reproduce at age 12 compared to males at age 6. They spawn in winter in offshore waters. Females have between two and 12 eggs per spawning season.
Where They Live
Range Spiny dogfish are found in the North Atlantic and North Pacific Oceans, mostly in the temperate and subarctic areas. In the Northwest Atlantic, they are found from Labrador to Florida and are most abundant between Nova Scotia and Cape Hatteras. Habitat Spiny dogfish live inshore and offshore, usually near the bottom but also in mid-water and at the surface.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Maine to North Carolina.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In 2024, commercial landings of spiny dogfish in the Atlantic totaled approximately 8.5 million pounds, and were valued at $1.8 million, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . The U.S. commercial fishery supplies European markets that use dogfish for fish and chips in England, and as a popular beer garden snack called shillerlocken in Germany. Gear types, habitat impacts, and bycatch: Atlantic spiny dogfish are targeted by gillnet and longline vessels, mainly in state waters. They are often caught incidentally in trawl, gillnet, and longline fisheries for groundfish species. Trawls can impact habitat, depending on where they are used.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Atlantic Spiny Dogfish 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 Spiny Dogfish.
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 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 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 Spiny Dogfish, 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
How much selenium does Atlantic Spiny Dogfish provide?
A 100 g raw serving of Atlantic Spiny Dogfish carries 36.5 µg of selenium, about 66% of the 55 µg daily value for adults.
How long do Atlantic Spiny Dogfish live?
Live a long time (35 to 40 years.
What does Atlantic Spiny Dogfish eat?
Like all sharks, dogfish grow slowly, mature late in life, and live a long time (35 to 40 years). Females grow larger and mature later than males—they’re first able to reproduce at age 12 compared to males at age 6. They spawn in winter in offshore waters. Females have between two and 12 eggs per spawning season.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Atlantic spiny dogfish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
According to the 2023 stock assessment, Atlantic spiny dogfish is not overfished and not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART . Scientists project that the number of mature females may decline somewhat in the coming years due to the low number of pups born during the 1990s when spiny dogfish were heavily fished.
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Area closures and gear restrictions protect habitats affected by some kinds of trawl gear.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries , the Mid-Atlantic and New England Fishery Management Councils , and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission manage the Atlantic spiny dogfish fishery. The Mid-Atlantic Council leads the joint management of the Spiny Dogfish Fishery Management Plan : Fishermen must have a permit to harvest spiny dogfish.
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.