Blue Shark

Description:

inhabits deep waters in the world's temperate and tropical oceans. Preferring cooler waters, blue sharks migrate long distances, for example from New England to South America. Although generally lethargic, they can move very quickly. Blue sharks are viviparous and are noted for large litters of 25 to over 100 pups. They feed primarily on small fish and squid, although they can take larger prey

Habitat:

The blue shark is the most widely distributed animal in the world. It is an oceanic and epipelagic shark found worldwide in deep temperate and tropical waters from the surface to about 350 meters.[5] In temperate seas it may approach shore where it can be observed by divers, while in tropical waters it inhabits greater depths. It lives as far north as Norway and as far south as Chile. Blue sharks are found off the coasts of every continent, except Antarctica. Its greatest Pacific concentrations occur between 20° and 50° North but with strong seasonal fluctuations. In the tropics it spreads evenly between 20° N and 20° S. It prefers waters with a temperature range of 7–16 °C (45–61 °F) but will tolerate temperatures of 21 °C (70 °F) or above. Records from the Atlantic show a regular clockwise migration within the prevailing currents.[4]

Notes:

Blue sharks are the most heavily fished sharks mainly as by-catch.[citation needed] It is estimated that 10 to 20 million individuals are killed each year as a result of fishing. The flesh is edible, but not widely sought after; it is consumed fresh, dried, smoked and salted and diverted for fishmeal. The skin is used for leather, the fins for shark-fin soup and the liver for oil.[4] Blue sharks are occasionally sought as game fish. Blue sharks are not considered an aggressive species and rarely attack humans.[citation needed] Most interactions take place in deep water and on small boats as they rarely venture close to shore.[citation needed] As of 2009 there have been 13 attacks on humans and 4 fatalities. These blue sharks were caught and released