MORPHOLOGICAL IDENTIFICATION OF FINS OF THE MAIN TRADED PELAGIC SHARK SPECIES IN CHILE: BLUE SHARK (Prionace glauca Linnaeus), SHORTFIN MAKO (Isurus oxyrhinchus Rafinesque), AND PORBEAGLE (Lamna nasus Bonnaterre)

The lack of species-specific landing records has produced difficulties in shark stock assessments in Chile. Given that the records are insufficient for fisheries assessments, it is imperative to have trustable morphological characteristics (or the identification of species or parts of their bodies (such as fins). This study describes morphological characters useful for the identification of fins of the three main traded pelagic shark species (P glauca, I. oxyrhinchus and L. nasus). Results showed that there arc diagnostic morphological characters to identify the fins of these three species. Given that the studied species are the most traded ones, the descriptions of the fins and the taxonomic keys per Cut type developed in this study Should be of high use to monitor landings of shark, especially fins in sacs. The knowledge of the proportion of traded species and the quantity of each is important for future fisheries assessments and the establishment of management plans.