Tope (Galeorhinus galeus) COSEWIC assessment and status report: chapter 5

Habitat

Habitat requirements

Compagno (1984) describes the habitat of tope as coastal pelagic, often well offshore but not oceanic. Ebert (2003) describes their habitat as temperate continental shelf waters from close inshore, including shallow bays, to offshore waters up to 471 m deep often near the bottom. They have been found in the surfline, bays, and submarine canyons. They are generally thought to occur near the bottom but have been captured by pelagic floating longlines in deep waters (Compagno 1984). Pups and juveniles utilize shallow nearshore habitats for one to two years before moving offshore.

Habitat trends

It is not known whether suitable habitat for tope has decreased or become less available.

Habitat protection/ownership

There is no direct protection of tope habitat. Some de facto protection may exist from a seasonal trawl closure on Dogfish Bank in Hecate Strait which is closed to bottom trawling from June 1 to July 15 to protect moulting Dungeness crabs (DFO 2005). Historically, much of the effort directed towards tope fishing occurred in this area during the months of June, July and August (Figure 6) (Barraclough 1948).

Figure 6. Historical fishing grounds for tope during the early 1940s (left panel); present-day soft-shell crab trawl closure (June-July) (right panel). Source: Barraclough 1948; DFO 2005.

Figure 6.  Historical fishing grounds for tope during the early 1940s (left panel); present-day soft-shell crab trawl closure (June-July) (right panel). Source: Barraclough 1948; DFO 2005.

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