5-Year Review for Common Angelshark

NOAA Fisheries is announcing completion of the ESA 5-year review for the common angelshark (Squatina squatina), which summarizes and evaluates the best available scientific information regarding the Common Angelshark's biology, status, and threats that has become available since it was listed in 2016.

NOAA Fisheries concludes that the common angelshark continues to face a high risk of extinction and should remain listed as endangered. This is due to the common angelshark's reduced spatial distribution and population size and ongoing threats of overutilization by fisheries throughout its range. Additionaly, Squatina squatina has continued to suffer a significant curtailment of its range; potentially, 58% of its range has been lost and current regulatory mechanisms in place are either ineffective or lacking to effectively address existing threats.