Day 6 onboard: Scientists find milk sharks and an angular rough shark
- Scientists caught this milk shark just offshore Dakar, Senegal
A shark species commonly known as white-eyed shark or milk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus) was identified by scientists onboard the vessel caught just offshore the City of Dakar. There were a total of four each weighing about 1 kg and were all juveniles.
The white-eyed shark or milk shark is a coastal shark species and is captured in artisanal, subsistence and even commercial fisheries. It can be regularly seen in fish markets.
Unlike many protected species of shark, this species is common and is widely spread from West Africa to the Western Pacific.
It is assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as Least Concern due to its wide spread distribution and relatively productive life history.
As we’ve mentioned on earlier blog posts aboard the Nansen, the scientists work around the clock – working in shifts both day and night to carry out their research
- On Day 6 most of the catch consists of boarfish and deepbody boarfish, both reddish orange in color
Last night was a particularly busy night shift for our crew.
These photos can provide you some idea of the work going on during this survey voyage.
90% of the catch consisted of two species that are reddish orange in color – the Boarfish (Capros aper) and the Deepbody boarfish (Antigonia capros).
The scientists also had six big Ijimaia loppel and one Angular rough shark scientifically referred to as Oxynotus centrina.
We’re glad to have you on board as we conduct our research. Any questions? Ask here, and our scientists will answer them in future blog posts. Until then, full steam ahead as we travel north on our West Africa voyage.
- Angular rough shark (Oxynotus centrina)
- White-eyed shark or milk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus)
- Ijimania loppei
