Pacific Common Thresher Shark
Alopias vulpinus
Also known as Thresher shark, Fox shark, Sea fox, Swingletail, Whiptail shark, Thintail shark
Culinary Profile
Mild flavor.
Firm, dense, and meat-like.
High in protein, low in fat, and a good source of niacin, vitamin B6, phosphorous, 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. Fins are blackish, and some have white dots on the tips. Their tail fin is sickle-shaped, and the upper part is very long, about half the length of the body.
Biology
Thresher sharks grow slowly, reaching lengths up to 18 feet. They live a long time, between 19 and 50 years. They mature when they reach about 5 years old and 5 feet in length. Thresher sharks mate in midsummer. Eggs are fertilized internally and develop inside the female. After a gestation period of about 9 months, females bear two to four live pups in the spring.
Where They Live
Range Thresher sharks are found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from Goose Bay, British Columbia, south to Baja California. They’re also found off Panama and Chile. They migrate seasonally between Oregon/Washington and southern California/Baja Peninsula, Mexico. Habitat Thresher sharks are highly migratory, and travel seasonally as temperatures change.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from California and the Pacific Islands.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In 2023, commercial landings of thresher shark on the West Coast totaled 68,000 pounds and were valued at $54,000, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Most thresher shark is landed in California. Gear types and bycatch: Drift gillnets are used to catch common thresher sharks. Drift gillnets can incidentally catch other species, such as ocean sunfish and blue sharks. Protected species, such as sperm whales and sea turtles, may be caught as bycatch in drift gillnet fisheries. Managers limit where and when drift gillnet fishermen can fish to help prevent bycatch. Logbooks and observer programs help monitor bycatch.
Nutritional Benchmarking Across 65 Species
Where Pacific 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 Pacific Islands Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Common Thresher Shark.
North Pacific Swordfish
Xiphias gladius
Moist, flavorful, and slightly sweet.
Pacific Albacore Tuna
Thunnus alalunga
Mild, rich taste.
Pacific Bigeye Tuna
Thunnus obesus
Bigeye tuna has a mild, meaty flavor, with a higher fat content than yellowfinand is preferred by sashimi lovers.
Pacific Bluefin Tuna
Thunnus orientalis
Bluefin has a distinctive flavor. With its high fat content, it is especially prized for sushi and sashimi.
Pacific Mahimahi
Coryphaena hippurus
Mahimahi has a sweet, mild flavor. For a milder flavor, trim away the darker portions of the meat.
Pacific Shortfin Mako Shark
Isurus oxyrinchus
Sweet with a full-bodied, meaty taste.
Pacific Skipjack Tuna
Katsuwonus pelamis
Skipjack tuna has the most pronounced taste of all of the tropical tunas.
Pacific Wahoo
Acanthocybium solanderi
Lean and mild.
Pacific Yellowfin Tuna
Thunnus albacares
Yellowfin tuna has a mild, meaty flavor. It’s more flavorful than albacore, but leaner than bluefin.
Striped Marlin
Kajikia audax
Distinctive flavor similar to but more pronounced than swordfish. It is considered the finest eating of all marlin speci…
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Pacific 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
Where in the water column does Pacific Common Thresher Shark live?
Range Thresher sharks are found in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from Goose Bay, British Columbia, south to Baja California. They’re also found off Panama and Chile. They migrate seasonally between Oregon/Washington and southern California/Baja Peninsula, Mexico. Habitat Thresher sharks are highly migratory, and travel seasonally as temperatures change.
How much choline does Pacific Common Thresher Shark contain?
A 100 g raw serving of Pacific Common Thresher Shark supplies 65 mg of choline, around 12% of the 550 mg daily value — notable for prenatal and liver-health contexts.
Who manages the Pacific Common Thresher Shark fishery?
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the Pacific common thresher shark fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species : Permits are needed to fish for highly migratory species, including thresher sharks, and fishermen must maintain logbooks documenting their catch.
How big does Pacific Common Thresher Shark get?
grow slowly, reaching lengths up to 18 feet.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific common thresher shark is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
According to the 2018 stock assessment, Pacific common thresher shark is not overfished and not subject to overfishing. Summary stock assessment information can be found on Stock SMART .
Population
The stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Drift gillnets and harpoons used to catch common thresher sharks have no impact on habitat because they’re used in the water column and don’t contact the ocean floor.
Bycatch
Regulations are in place to minimize bycatch.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage the Pacific common thresher shark fishery on the West Coast. Managed under the Fishery Management Plan for U.S. West Coast Fisheries for Highly Migratory Species : Permits are needed to fish for highly migratory species, including thresher sharks, and fishermen must maintain logbooks documenting their catch.
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.