Pacific Spiny Dogfish
Squalus suckleyi
Also known as Dogfish, Spring dogfish, Spiked dogfish, Grayfish, Spur dog, Piked dogfish
Culinary Profile
Sweet, mild flavor and a higher oil content than mako or other sharks.
Flaky yet firm.
Shark is a low-fat source of protein that is high in selenium and vitamins B6 and B12.
Gastronomic Specifications
Biology & Habitat
Appearance
Spiny dogfish are slim with a narrow, pointed snout and distinctive white spots. Their bodies are gray above and white below. True to their name, they have sharp spines in front of each of their two dorsal fins.
Biology
Spiny dogfish live a long time, sometimes more than 80 years. They grow slowly, up to more than 4 feet and 22 pounds, although adults are generally 2.5 to 3.5 feet long. Spiny dogfish aren’t able to reproduce until they’re older—females mature at an average age of 35, males mature at an average age of 19. Female spiny dogfish are internally fertilized, and pups are retained in utero for 18 to 22 months.
Where They Live
Range Pacific spiny dogfish are found from the Bering Sea to Baja California. They are more common off the U.S. West Coast and British Columbia than in the Gulf of Alaska or the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands region. Habitat Spiny dogfish live in waters as deep as 4,050 feet but most are found in waters less than 1,150 feet deep.
How to Buy & Source
Availability
Year-round.
Source
U.S. wild-caught from Alaska to California.
Commercial Fishery & Harvest
In 2024, commercial landings of Pacific spiny dogfish totaled approximately 335,000 pounds and were valued at $5,500, according to the NOAA Fisheries commercial fishing landings database . Spiny dogfish is a low-value species and is mostly taken as bycatch in Pacific coast–based fisheries targeting other commercially important species. There are currently no directed commercial fisheries for shark species in federally or state-managed waters of Alaska. Spiny dogfish are caught incidentally in fisheries for halibut and groundfish. Nearly all shark catch is discarded at sea, but some spiny dogfish are retained as incidental catch in state-managed fisheries. Spiny dogfish are generally not targeted by anglers off the Pacific coast or Alaska.
Other Alaska Fisheries
Sustainable species managed out of the same regional fishery council as Pacific Spiny Dogfish.
Arrowtooth Flounder
Atheresthes stomias
Mild, sweet flavor.
Bocaccio
Sebastes paucispinis
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Canary Rockfish
Sebastes pinniger
Delicate, nutty, sweet flavor.
Chinook Salmon
Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Chinook salmon has a pronounced buttery, rich taste. They are the most highly prized salmon in the culinary world.
Chum Salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
Chum salmon has a lower oil content than other wild salmon, so it has a relatively mild flavor.
Coho Salmon
Oncorhynchus kisutch
Smaller coho have a delicate flavor. Fillets from larger fish have a mild taste.
Dover Sole
Microstomus pacificus
Mild and sweet.
English Sole
Parophrys vetulus
Mild taste with a slight shellfish flavor.
Flathead Sole
Hippoglossoides elassodon
Mild and delicate flavor.
Geoduck
Panopea generosa
The neck is tough and crunchy, while the belly meat is tender and sweet.
Similar by Flavour: Other Mild-Tasting Species
If you enjoy the mild flavour profile of Pacific 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
What is the stock status of Pacific Spiny Dogfish?
The Pacific Coast stock is not overfished.
How does Pacific Spiny Dogfish reproduce?
Spiny dogfish live a long time, sometimes more than 80 years. They grow slowly, up to more than 4 feet and 22 pounds, although adults are generally 2.5 to 3.5 feet long. Spiny dogfish aren’t able to reproduce until they’re older—females mature at an average age of 35, males mature at an average age of 19.
Who manages the Pacific Spiny Dogfish fishery?
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage Pacific spiny dogfish on the West Coast. Managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan : Part of the “other fish complex” that includes all of the non-flatfish or rockfish species managed under the groundfish fishery management plan, which is not assessed.
How long do Pacific Spiny Dogfish live?
Live a long time, sometimes more than 80 years.
Sustainability Story
U.S. wild-caught Pacific spiny dogfish is a smart seafood choice because it is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under U.S. regulations.
Stock Structure
There are three stocks of Pacific spiny dogfish: Pacific coast, one stock contained in the Bering Sea/Aleutian Islands Shark Complex, and one stock contained in the Gulf of Alaska Shark Complex. According to the most recent stock assessments: The Pacific coast stock is not overfished (2021 stock assessment), and not subject to overfishing based on 2023 catch data.
Population
The Pacific Coast stock is not overfished.
Fishing Rate
Not subject to overfishing.
Habitat Impacts
Fishermen generally do not directly target spiny dogfish in waters off the Pacific Coast and Alaska. As a result, there are no habitat impacts from a directed fishery.
Bycatch
Fishermen generally do not directly target spiny dogfish in waters off the Pacific Coast and Alaska. As a result, there are no bycatch impacts from a directed fishery.
Management
NOAA Fisheries and the Pacific Fishery Management Council manage Pacific spiny dogfish on the West Coast. Managed under the Pacific Coast Groundfish Fishery Management Plan : Part of the “other fish complex” that includes all of the non-flatfish or rockfish species managed under the groundfish fishery management plan, which is not assessed.
Data Source: NOAA Fisheries
Nutritional Profile
per 100 g raw edible portion · 7 values
Nutrient Facts (NOAA)
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.