Abstract

The information analyzed was obtained by scientific observers on board the Venezuelan pelagic longline fleet targeting swordfish and tuna during 1994-2003. The total shark bycatch comprises a total of 25 species, in which the most frequently caught were P. glauca (34.76%) and C. signatus (20.15%). Other common species in the catch composition were C. falciformis (8.46%), S. mokarran (6.81%), and I. oxyrinchus (6.23%). Shark diversity analysis showed a decreasing trend throughout the time series. Areas with relative high diversity values were located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, primarily in areas close to the islands and coasts of Venezuela. Other areas with significant diversity values corresponded to the inner arc of the Lesser Antilles and Suriname shelf. Annual CPUE trends for the five most important shark species revealed a declining in abundance during the time series. Shark catches for the most important species comprised a large proportion of juveniles. Major efforts, with support from the international community will be needed to generate the information required for the stock assessment of pelagic and coastal sharks in the Caribbean Sea

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