KITEFIN SHARK Dalatias licha (DALATIIDAE) FISHERY IN THE NORTH EASTERN ATLANTIC AND SOME RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ELASMOBRANCHS EXPLOITATION

SUMMARY In the Azores Islands, between 1986 and 1998, Dalatias licha was caught to obtain liver oil. A drastic abundance decline, attributable to a high level of exploitation, was observed. In Argentina elasmobranchs have undergone intensive fishing and, at present, catches are compromised. The history of the fishery in Azores should be taken as example and warning when implementing elasmobranchs fisheries management in Argentina.