Sharks and batoids (Subclass Elasmobranchii) caught in the industrial fisheries off the Brazilian North coast

The Brazilian North coastline comprises a total area of approximately 223,000 km2, representing one of the world’s most essential fishing grounds. Availability of data on the diversity of fishes caught in the industrial fishery trawlers in the region are usually limited to the commercially important and targeted species. Knowledge gaps on the related marine fish fauna are eminent, which hamper both fisheries and conservation efforts of the local biodiversity. A comprehensive taxonomic list of elasmobranch species captured off the North coast from Brazil through industrial trawl fishery is provided. Trawling operations acting regionally included pink-shrimp and several fish (outrigger trawling) and piramutaba catfish (pair trawlers). Sixty-eigth elasmobranch species belonging to 20 families and nine orders were recorded for this region, according to fish collection, fishery observer and literature data. Thirty-two are by-catch species caught in the local trawl operations, including endemic and rare species as well as four new records and one possible undescribed species of electric ray.