Shark Fish are a group of elasmobranch fish characterized by a cartilaginous skeleton, five to seven-gill slits on the sides of the head, and pectoral fins that are not fused to the head. Modern sharks are classified within the clade Selachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the sister group to the rays. However, the term “shark” has also been (incorrectly^[rx]) used to refer to extinct members of the subclass Elasmobranchii, which are technically outside the Selachimorpha clade. Notable examples include of improper classification include Cladoselache, Xenacanthus, and various other members of the Chondrichthyes class like the holocephalid eugenedontidans.

A shark is a group of elasmobranch fish featured by a cartilaginous skeleton, 5 to 6 gills slits on sides of the head and pectoral fins are not fused to head. They are classified within clade Selachimorpha (or Selachii) and are the sister group to rays. The word shark is used for extinct members of subclass Elasmobranchii such as Xenacanthus and Cladoselache, as well as other Chondrichthyes such as the holocephalid eugenedontidans.

The Shark fish: facts and nutrition

Proximity	Amount	% DV
Water	51.08 g	N/D
Energy	194 Kcal	N/D
Energy	811 kJ	N/D
Protein	15.83 g	31.66%
Total Fat (lipid)	11.75 g	33.57%
Ash	1.06 g	N/D
Carbohydrate	5.43 g	4.18%

Minerals	Amount	% DV
Calcium, Ca	42 mg	4.20%
Iron, Fe	0.94 mg	11.75%
Magnesium, Mg	37 mg	8.81%
Phosphorus, P	165 mg	23.57%
Potassium, K	132 mg	2.81%
Sodium, Na	104 mg	6.93%
Zinc, Zn	0.41 mg	3.73%
Copper, Cu	0.036 mg	4.00%
Manganese, Mn	0.043 mg	1.87%
Selenium, Se	28.9 µg	52.55%

Vitamins	Amount	% DV
Water soluble Vitamins
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin)	0.061 mg	5.08%
Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)	0.082 mg	6.31%
Vitamin B3 (Niacin)	2.366 mg	14.79%
Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic acid)	0.527 mg	10.54%
Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine)	0.255 mg	19.62%
Vitamin B9 (Folate)	13 µg	3.25%
Folic Acid	8 µg	N/D
Folate, food	4 µg	N/D
Folate, DEF	19 µg	N/D
Vitamin B-12 (Cobalamine)	1.03 µg	42.92%
Fat soluble Vitamins
Vitamin A, RAE	46 µg	6.57%
Vitamin A, IU	153 IU	N/D
Retinol	46 µg	N/D

Lipids	Amount	% DV
Fatty acids, total saturated	2.724 g	N/D
Myristic acid  14:00(Tetradecanoic acid)	0.087 g	N/D
Palmitic acid 16:00 (Hexadecanoic acid)	1.707 g	N/D
Stearic acid 18:00 (Octadecanoic acid)	0.928 g	N/D
Fatty acids, total monounsaturated	5.045 g	N/D
Palmitoleic acid 16:1 (hexadecenoic acid)	0.19 g	N/D
Oleic acid 18:1 (octadecenoic acid)	4.434 g	N/D
Gadoleic acid 20:1 (eicosenoic acid)	0.184 g	N/D
Erucic acid 22:1 (docosenoic acid)	0.215 g	N/D
Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated	3.146 g	N/D
Linoleic acid 18:2 (octadecadienoic acid)	2.21 g	N/D
Linolenic acid 18:3 (Octadecatrienoic acid)	0.161 g	N/D
18:04	0.021 g	N/D
20:4 undifferentiated	0.078 g	N/D
20:5 n-3 (EPA)	0.219 g	N/D
22:5 n-3 (DPA)	0.076 g	N/D
22:6 n-3 (DHA)	0.366 g	N/D
Cholesterol	50 mg	N/D

Amino acids	Amount	% DV
Tryptophan	0.18 g	40.91%
Threonine	0.717 g	40.74%
Isoleucine	0.737 g	44.08%
Leucine	1.288 g	34.85%
Lysine	1.389 g	41.54%
Methionine	0.46 g	N/D
Cystine	0.18 g	N/D
Phenylalanine	0.637 g	N/D
Tyrosine	0.538 g	N/D
Valine	0.82 g	38.83%
Arginine	0.93 g	N/D
Histidine	0.457 g	37.09%
Alanine	0.932 g	N/D
Aspartic acid	1.573 g	N/D
Glutamic acid	2.525 g	N/D
Glycine	0.741 g	N/D
Proline	0.632 g	N/D
Serine	0.671 g	N/D

*Above mentioned Percent Daily Values (%DVs) are based on 2,000 calorie diet intake. Daily values (DVs) may be different depending upon your daily calorie needs. Mentioned values are recommended by a U.S. Department of Agriculture. They are not healthbenefitstimes.com recommendations. Calculations are based on average age of 19 to 50 years and weighs 194 lbs. Source: https://ndb.nal.usda.gov/ 

Health Benefits

1. Enhance nervous system – Calcium being an electrolyte is a key part of signaling within the nervous system. Shark Fish offers calcium that ensures muscle contractions and other messages within the nervous system are effectively communicated.
2. Heart ailments – Shark Fish has moderate amounts of potassium and it acts vasodilator that means it could lower tension in blood vessels and arteries. It lowers the chances of atherosclerosis, strokes, heart attacks, and coronary heart disease.
3. Balance cholesterol – All fats are not created equal and not all are bad for the body. Smelt fish has a high content of omega-3 fatty acids that promotes cholesterol balance and heart health by lowering deposited plaque in arteries.
4. Osteoporosis prevention – This Shark Fish fish provides various minerals such as phosphorus, manganese, copper, calcium, iron, and zinc which are associated with bone mineral density in the body. The bone density starts to decline as we age so consuming fish with high content of minerals helps to lower the early onset of osteoporosis. Smelt fish may contain a variety of minerals, including manganese, phosphorus, calcium, copper, zinc, and iron, all of which are related to the bone mineral density in our body. As we age, this bone density begins to decline, so eating fish that is high in minerals may help to reduce the early onset of osteoporosis. ^[rx]
5. May Prevent Chronic Diseases – There is an impressively large amount of selenium found in smelt fish, nearly 45% of your daily requirement in each serving. This relatively rare mineral works as a powerful antioxidant. It may reduce oxidative stress in the body and reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases. ^[rx]
6. Prevent acne – It prevents acne and regulates testosterone levels in the body. Additionally, it is also involved in collagen synthesis. It normalizes the skin oils and promotes skin health. Zinc promotes the count of white blood cells and lowers the risk of infection. Zinc reduces the appearance of scars. (rx)
7. Treat cramps – The deficiency of potassium causes cramps in muscles that is known as hypokalemia. The high intake of potassium prevents muscle cramps. (rx)
8. Provides energy – Sugar is a great source of energy. Vitamin B1 oxidizes the usable form of energy. It plays a vital role in the pyruvate dehydrogenase system that assists in sugar oxidation. Vitamin B1 is essential for the functions of the enzyme system that supports various functions. (rx)
9. Enhance immunity – Vitamin B1 promotes immunity power by promoting antibodies and reinforce the defense system to counteract infections.
10. Nervous health – Riboflavin cures nervous ailments such as Alzheimer’s disease, numbness, anxiety, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy. It helps to treat painful symptoms of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.
11. Help Growth – Nowadays, a lot of parents are stimulating their children’s growth by giving them additional supplements. However, it will be better if we stimulate it naturally. Such as giving the kids balanced nutrition, one of the ways to do this is by giving them the sea fish. The contents of vitamin D in it can also help children to grow taller. The health benefits of baby banana can also be an alternative for you to help with, especially, children’s growth.
12. Strengthening Body’s – Another benefit of sea fish is to protect and maintain the body’s immune system. The content of calcipotriol in vitamin D that is produced by the pomfret fish can also function as an immune system modulator. This nutrition is well-fitted for those of you who are easy to catch a cold, flu, cough, or even headache.
13. Decrease the Risk of Breast Cancer – Breast cancer is one of the diseases that are very difficult to cure. Therefore, we need to take some steps in order to avoid this cancer. This can be done in many ways such as consuming the sea fish. This fish is capable to prevent cancer cells from multiplying in your body.
14. Help You Stays Young – Rejuvenating skin to make it stays beautiful and elastic is certainly what every woman always hoping for. One of the tips to do this, is, by consuming foods that contain vitamin D, such as sea fish. By consuming the fish every day, then the vitamin D can help to rejuvenate your skin and makes it look healthier and fresher. Even the vitamin D2 and D3 types are capable to decrease the risk of skin diseases such as psoriasis.
15. Osteomalacia Medicine – Osteomalacia is a disease that attacks the tissues of the human body. The cause of this is the abnormality function of tissue when it is processing the development of minerals on the bones. This can make the bones weak and very easy to break, which usually happens in adults. The solution to this disease is by consuming sea fish and food that have vitamin D in them as well as exposing yourself to the sunlight.
16. Prevent Rachitic – If osteomalacia usually attacks the adults, rachitic is a bone disease that usually attacks the children. The main cause of this disease is lacking vitamin D and minerals in the bones, thus disturbing the development of the bones. The disease will make the bones weak and not strong enough. One of the solutions to this is to let the children consume foods with vitamin D in them such as spot fish and exposure to the sunlight as well.
17. Decrease Dementia Risk – For those of you who can afford to consume fish every day, this may be a way to decrease the risk of developing dementia such as Alzheimer’s. This disease attacks the memory or storage media since it degrades the brain cells that can make the patient suffer severe memory loss. One of the ways to prevent this is by consuming fish for its omega 3 content (DHA and EPA). It can help stimulate your brain tissues and cells. If you happen to notice some symptoms of dementia within your body or people around you, don’t forget to go consume sea fish immediately.
18. Decrease Depression – Consuming sea fish every day will allow you to decrease the risks of depression. This can be said since one of the causes of depression is a low level of omega 3 fatty acid. Therefore, consuming his fish every day can help you to make sure that you have the omega 3 you needed. There you go to know the health benefits of sea fish.
    • normalizes carbohydrate metabolism;
    • reduces the concentration of “bad” cholesterol;
    • improves brain cognitive function;
    • stimulates the activity of the immune system;
    • prevents the formation of inflammatory reactions;
    • improves water-salt metabolism;
    • participates in the regulation of vascular tone;
    • strengthens the myocardium;
    • normalizes blood clotting processes;
    • stimulates collagen and elastin synthesis;
    • increases bone density;
    • improves blood rheology;
    • stimulates the synthesis of enzymes, hormones and neurotransmitters;
    • promotes tissue regeneration;
    • slows down the aging process of the skin;
    • enhances libido (libido).

Precautions

• The consumption of sea fish if one is trying to reduce inflammatory diseases such as heart disease.
• Farmed ones contain arsenic that leads to arsenic poisoning.
• Farmed seafood results in to increase in inflammation leading to weight gain, arthritis, and heart diseases.
• The imbalance ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 causes heart disease and hypertension.
• Seafood and fish in farms have polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organophosphorus (OPs), organochlorine (OC), trifluralin pesticides, and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) causing diseases or even death.
• The seafood has a high content of mercury, which may lead to mercury toxicity.
• Try to consume seafood and fish in moderate amounts.
• Consult the doctor by pregnant women and children before consuming it. Children and pregnant women should avoid it because the high content of mercury might cause a negative impact on the development of the nervous system of a fetus.

Prohibited Sharks

Prohibited shark species are protected from fishing activities by Section 40.7 of Title 6 of New York’s Codes, Rules and Regulations. Learn more about which shark species are prohibited, why they are prohibited, and best practices for handling and release of these species below.

• Prohibited shark species found in New York State waters include Sandbar (“Brown”), Dusky, and Sand Tiger sharks. Large (non-dogfish) sharks that are caught from shore in New York are usually a prohibited shark species. Prohibited shark species may also be encountered by boat-based anglers in nearshore waters.
• For a full list of all prohibited shark species, view Recreational Saltwater Fishing Regulations.
• Download and review the NOAA Fisheries Shark Identification Placard and Prohibited Shark Identification Placard (PDF links leave DEC website) before going shark fishing. Remember, “If you don’t know, let it go!”

It is illegal to take or possess prohibited shark species.

“Take” is defined in New York’s Environmental Conservation Law Section 11-0103 (13) and includes pursuing, killing, and capturing sharks. It also includes all lesser acts such as disturbing, harrying, or worrying, or using any device commonly used to take sharks.

• Any angler who is making an effort to catch a prohibited shark species is pursuing or targeting that species in violation of 6 NYCRR 40.7(c)(1).
• Do not fish for or target prohibited sharks in New York waters. Intentional catch and release of prohibited sharks is likewise illegal.
• If a prohibited shark is hooked, the angler must release the prohibited shark immediately and in a manner that maximizes the shark’s chance of survival.
• Do not tag prohibited sharks or delay release to take pictures.
• Participating in NOAA’s Cooperative Shark Tagging Program (CSTP) (link leaves DEC website) as a volunteer does not exempt you from New York State laws and regulations. NOAA requires CSTP volunteers to follow all local, state and federal rules.

Why Certain Shark Species are Prohibited

Prohibited shark species are particularly vulnerable due to a combination of factors which include:

• Low reproduction rates
• Maturity at older ages
• Long gestation periods
• Species may be overfished, and/or overfishing may be occurring
• Vulnerability to certain fishing practices

The prohibited status gives these species the protection they need from fishing to maintain and rebuild their populations.

How to Release a Prohibited Shark

Treat any shark that you cannot identify as prohibited species and release it immediately. If you catch a prohibited shark species, please adhere to the following guidelines.

From the Shore:

• Minimize your fight time – do not play the shark to exhaustion.
• Release the shark immediately – do not delay release to tag or take pictures.
• Minimize handling. Lifting sharks out of the water can put yourself and others at risk. Dragging a shark by the tail can severely injure the animal.
• Never drag a shark onto dry land beyond the surf zone. Sharks caught from shore should be left in as much water as possible while maintaining the safety of the angler and those nearby.
• Do not sit on the shark or pull back the snout to reveal the teeth.
• Keep onlookers in the area well clear of the shark.
• If the shark is hooked in the jaw, use a long-handled de-hooking device to help with hook removal or bolt cutters to cut the hook.
• If it is not possible to remove the hook, cut the leader as close to the hook as safely as the situation allows. Long lengths of leader left with the shark decrease its chance of survival after it is released.

From a Boat:

• Minimize your fight time – do not play the shark to exhaustion.
• Always keep the shark in the water alongside your boat with its snout facing into the current to maintain a regular flow of water over its gills.
• Do not use a gaff. Instead hold the shark on the leader while moving the boat slowly ahead.
• If the shark is hooked in the jaw, use a long-handled dehooking device to help with hook removal or bolt cutters to cut the hook.
• If it is not possible to remove the hook, cut the leader as close to the hook as safely as the situation allows. Long lengths of leader left with the shark decrease its chance of survival after it is released.
• Before you go fishing, watch

References

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