Blue Shark
Prionace glauca
The blue shark, also known as the great blue shark, is a species of requiem shark in the family Carcharhinidae which inhabits deep waters in the world's temperate and tropical oceans. It is the only species of genus Prionace.
106
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_shark
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Elasmobranchii
Order
Carcharhiniformes
Family
Carcharhinidae
Genus
Prionace
Blue Shark belongs to the family Carcharhinidae, order Carcharhiniformes, within the Elasmobranchii class.
Species Profile
The blue shark, also known as the great blue shark, is a species of requiem shark in the family Carcharhinidae which inhabits deep waters in the world's temperate and tropical oceans. It is the only species of genus Prionace. Averaging around 3.1 m (10 ft) and preferring cooler waters, the blue shark migrates long distances, such as from New England to South America. It is listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.
Blue sharks face significant threats primarily from intensive commercial fishing operations, where they are frequently caught as bycatch in longline and gillnet fisheries targeting other species like tuna and swordfish. Their slow reproductive rate and late sexual maturity make populations particularly vulnerable to overexploitation, while their wide-ranging oceanic migrations expose them to fishing pressure across multiple jurisdictions with varying conservation measures.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Blue sharks inhabit open oceanic waters in temperate and tropical seas worldwide, typically found in the epipelagic zone from the surface to depths of 350 meters. They prefer cooler waters between 7-16°C and undertake extensive migrations across ocean basins, following temperature gradients and prey availability.
Threats
Bycatch in commercial fisheries
Targeted fishing for fins and meat
Climate change affecting prey distribution
Marine pollution and plastic ingestion
Slow reproductive rate and late maturity
Found in 106 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | NTNear Threatened | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | NTNear Threatened | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Blue Shark (Prionace glauca). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/blue-shark