Blue shark
A slender, deep-blue oceanic shark found in temperate and tropical seas worldwide.
The blue shark is a highly migratory requiem shark inhabiting deep waters across the globe. It is known for its slender build, large litters of pups, and significant presence in commercial fisheries as bycatch.
- Only living species of the genus Prionace
- Prefers water temperatures between 12 and 20 °C
- Females have skin three times thicker than males
- Can produce litters of over 100 pups
- Recorded captivity survival of 246 days
What it is
The blue shark is a slender, elongated requiem shark with long pectoral fins. It exhibits countershading, featuring a deep blue back, lighter sides, and a white underside. Males typically reach maturity at 1.8 to 2.8 metres, while larger females grow to 2.2 to 3.3 metres. The maximum scientifically documented length is 3.8 metres. This species is ectothermic and possesses well-developed senses, including vision, hearing, and electroreception via ampullae of Lorenzini.
Where it lives
This oceanic species inhabits deep temperate and tropical waters globally, excluding Antarctic regions. It is found from Norway to Chile and off every continent except Antarctica. In the Pacific, concentrations are highest between 20 and 50 degrees North. The shark prefers temperatures between 12 and 20 degrees Celsius but tolerates a wider range. It lives from the surface down to about 350 metres, often approaching shores in temperate seas.
How it lives
Blue sharks are highly migratory, moving horizontally and vertically across vast distances. They are most active at night, swimming faster and diving deeper than during the day. Their diet consists mainly of squid and small forage fish, though they also eat crustaceans, carrion, and occasionally sea birds. They have been observed hunting in packs to herd prey. Predators include killer whales, tiger sharks, and great white sharks.
Breeding and life cycle
These sharks are viviparous, utilizing a yolk-sac placenta to nourish developing young. Gestation lasts nine to twelve months, resulting in litters of four to over one hundred pups. Females mature at five to six years, while males mature slightly earlier. Newborns are left in specific nursery areas away from adults. Females have thicker skin than males to withstand mating bites, which often leave semicircular marks on their dorsal fins.
Fish and people
Blue shark meat is edible and consumed fresh, dried, or smoked, though it is not widely sought after due to reports of heavy metals. The skin is used for leather, fins for soup, and liver for oil. They are occasionally targeted as game fish for their speed and appearance. Bites on humans are rare, with only thirteen incidents recorded between 1580 and 2013. They fare poorly in captivity, with few surviving more than a few months.
Status and threats
The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the blue shark as Near Threatened. Large numbers are caught as bycatch in longline and net fisheries. While abundant, this high level of incidental capture poses a significant threat to populations. Fossil records indicate the species has existed since the Miocene, with teeth found in Sri Lanka, Chile, Italy, and Belgium.
Questions people ask about Blue shark
How big do blue sharks get?
Males commonly grow to 1.82 to 2.82 metres, while females are larger, reaching 2.2 to 3.3 metres. The maximum scientifically documented length is 3.8 metres, weighing up to 391 kg.
Are blue sharks dangerous to humans?
Attacks are rare. From 1580 to 2013, there were only thirteen reported biting incidents, four of which were fatal. They generally do not seek out humans as prey.
What do blue sharks eat?
Their primary prey is squid. They also consume small bony fishes, crustaceans like lobster and crab, mammalian carrion, and occasionally sea birds. They may hunt in packs to herd prey.
Where do blue sharks live?
They inhabit deep temperate and tropical oceans worldwide, except in Antarctic waters. They are found from the surface to depths of about 350 metres, preferring cooler waters between 12 and 20 degrees Celsius.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Blue shark", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryFish rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes, and figures change over time. Nothing here is investment or buying advice. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-11-15.
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