Apristurus brunneus - (Gilbert, 1892)
Brown Cat Shark
Related ITIS Name(s): Apristurus brunneus (Gilbert, 1892) (TSN 159988)
Element Code: AFDDF01010
Informal Taxonomy: Animals, Vertebrates - Fishes - Sharks, Skates, and Rays
Animalia Craniata Chondrichthyes Carcharhiniformes Scyliorhinidae Apristurus
Name Used in Concept Reference: Apristurus brunneus
National Status: NU (11Oct2016)
Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC): Data Deficient (22Apr2007)
Comments on COSEWIC: Reason for designation: The species is the smallest shark found in Canadian Pacific waters and the only Canadian representative of the largest family of sharks (Scyliorhinidae). Although distributed throughout British Columbia waters, it is likely more common in waters off the southern part of the province. Adults are encountered on the bottom over soft mud or rocky reefs on the outer continental shelf at depths of 300-1000 m. There is no directed fishery but it is caught as bycatch in deepwater (>500 m) commercial trawling, where effort has declined since 2002 by over 80%. An index of abundance from that fishery indicates that the population is stable or increasing over the period 1996 to 2005, but interpretation of that trend is seriously confounded by the incorporation of unfished areas midway through the series and a change in catch reporting after the first three years. Several short duration research surveys have provided a minimum population estimate of about 25,000 individuals of all ages and confirmation that the species is widespread within deep waters (>500m) of the continental slope (it appears in 42% of trawls). However, the data series are too short and variable to provide an indication of status. There is little biological information available that can be used to estimate vulnerability to potential threats. Reproduction appears to occur year-round. No age data are available but other small sharks in this family mature at less than 10 years. There is no information about size at maturity in Canadian waters but the projection of latitudinal trends in size at maturity suggests that as few as 4% of the females and 16% of the males would be mature. The only known threat to the species is fishing-related mortality, which has likely been diminishing in recent years as the deep-water trawl fishery effort has declined.
Status history: Species considered in April 2007 and placed in the Data Deficient category.
IUCN Red List Category: DD - Data deficient