Shark
Blue Shark
Prionace glauca
A slender, deep-blue oceanic shark of the open Cape waters, with long pectoral fins and large dark eyes.
Also known as blouhaai, blue whaler
- Typical size
- Commonly 1.8-2.5 m
- Habitat
- Deep offshore open ocean
- Depth
- Surface to several hundred metres
The blue shark is an unmistakably slim, graceful shark, deep indigo-blue on the back fading to bright white below, with very long, scythe-like pectoral fins and a pointed snout. Built for cruising the open ocean, it is a wide-ranging pelagic wanderer.
Off South Africa it is common in deep offshore water, particularly along the Cape, where it feeds on shoaling fish and squid and often gathers around bait and chum. It is generally not regarded as dangerous to divers but commands respect, and as a heavily fished pelagic species it is of real conservation concern, so catch-and-release is encouraged.