Sharks of Alaska: Guardians of the North Pacific

Sharks may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Alaska’s marine wonders, but these fascinating creatures play a crucial role in our ocean’s delicate balance. As we celebrate Shark Week, it’s important to remember that while documentaries often portray sharks as "monsters" or "man-eaters," they are actually essential to our ecosystem and should be respected rather than feared.

Sharks are more than just formidable predators; they are guardians of our North Pacific waters. Here in Alaska, they help regulate prey populations, keeping our marine ecosystems healthy and diverse. Their presence ensures a balanced food chain, impacting everything from fish populations to ocean health.

Sharks Found in Alaska:

• Salmon Shark (Lamna ditropis):

  • Length: Up to 10 feet
  • Lifespan: Estimated up to 20-30 years
  • Diet: Predominantly feeds on salmon and squid
  • Range: North Pacific Ocean
  • Fun Fact: Salmon sharks are one of the few shark species known to be warm-blooded, allowing them to maintain body temperatures higher than the surrounding water.

• Spiny Dogfish (Squalus suckleyi):

  • Length: Typically 3 to 4 feet
  • Lifespan: Around 20-30 years
  • Diet: Feeds on small fish, squid, and crustaceans
  • Range: Worldwide in temperate and subarctic waters
  • Fun Fact: Spiny dogfish are one of the most abundant shark species in the world and are known for their defensive spines near their dorsal fins.

• Pacific Sleeper Shark (Somniosus pacificus):

  • Length: Up to 14 feet
  • Lifespan: Estimated to live over 30 years
  • Diet: Scavenges on fish, squid, and carrion
  • Range: Deep waters of the North Pacific Ocean
  • Fun Fact: Pacific sleeper sharks are known for their slow swimming speeds, but they can surprise prey with sudden bursts of speed when hunting.

• Greenland Shark (Somniosus microcephalus):

  • Length: Up to 24 feet
  • Lifespan: Among the longest-lived vertebrates, up to 400 years or more
  • Diet: Primarily fish, seals, and carrion
  • Range: Deep, cold waters of the North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans
  • Fun Fact: Greenland sharks have a slow growth rate and mature late in life, with some individuals not reaching sexual maturity until they are over 100 years old.

• Basking Shark (Cetorhinus maximus):

  • Length: Second-largest living fish, can reach over 30 feet 
  • Lifespan: Estimated up to 50 years
  • Diet: Filter-feeder, consuming plankton and small fish
  • Range: Temperate and cold waters worldwide
  • Fun Fact: Basking sharks are gentle giants and are known for their habit of swimming near the surface with their mouths wide open to filter-feed, resembling basking in the sun.

You can play a crucial role in shark conservation right here in Alaska. If you spot a salmon shark, reporting your sighting to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADFG) helps scientists track their movements and better understand their behavior. If you’re on a longline boat and catch a large shark, reporting it to NOAA contributes valuable data to ongoing research efforts.

Sharks are not just creatures of myth and misconception; they are vital to our oceans and deserve our protection. Join us in celebrating Shark Week by learning more about these incredible creatures and together, we can promote a deeper understanding and appreciation for sharks and their critical role in Alaska’s marine ecosystems.

Report a salmon shark sighting to ADFG: 907-267-2180 or sabrina.garcia@alaska.gov

Become part of the Large Shark EM Project or report a large shark catch to NOAA: https://sites.google.com/view/emsharkproject/home