What Shark Species Inhabit Chilean Coasts?

Chile, with its expansive 4,000 kilometers of Pacific coastline, represents a significant portion of the Southeastern Pacific. This vast stretch of coast is home to a variety of shark species. But how many species truly inhabit these waters? While it is widely acknowledged that over 50 species of sharks have been reported, most guides and species lists tend to be either too localised or incomplete. This presents a challenge for accurately tracking shark populations across such a diverse and geographically varied coastline.

The issue becomes even more complex when we consider the stark differences between the northern, central, and southern regions of Chile. The shark species found in the arid northern regions are often very different from those in the colder waters of the south. This geographical diversity makes it difficult to compile comprehensive, nationwide data. Furthermore, territories like Oceania’s Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and the Chilean Antarctic region introduce additional variations in species distribution that are rarely accounted for in broader studies.

As part of our project, we have been working on a national compilation of the shark species that may be encountered along Chile’s coasts. This inventory will help us identify species more accurately in each region (North, Central, and Southern Chile), which is key to understanding the rate at which each species is reported by artisanal fishers.

To ensure accurate communication with fishers, it’s vital that we’re clear on the species we’re discussing. As part of this effort, we’ve compiled and illustrated the species that may appear in our interviews with fishers. While many of these species already have excellent scientific illustrations, there were a few that required modifications. Some existing illustrations depicted the species more broadly (for example, not distinguishing between congeneric species), while others needed to be created from scratch, especially for less-documented species.

Schroederichthys bivius. Illustration © Valentina C. Romagnoli

The availability of high-quality illustrations and online guides has been a tremendous asset to our work. These resources have provided an invaluable starting point, but they also highlight the importance of continued accessibility to scientific and artistic contributions. This project not only serves to gather more accurate data on shark populations, but it also underscores the role of art in science, helping bridge the gap between technical knowledge and community outreach.

With the illustrations now finalised and the interviews underway, we’re beginning to get a clearer picture of the species caught in artisanal fisheries, their distribution, and the challenges surrounding catch reporting.

In our next blog post, we will share the first insights from our interviews with fishers. Stay tuned for exciting updates!

Project

Chile’s artisanal catch report form is in need of overhaul. Valentina is describing and quantifying the underestimation of artisanal shark catches. She also wants to propose constructive changes to the local authorities. To do this, she is assessing the species caught and those reported by fishermen, as well as recording what names fishers in different regions of the (very) long coast use for different species, and what name they would typically use to report these species. Another goal is to properly identify species potentially threatened by artisanal fisheries, which means having each fisher identify the species caught as target or incidental catch.

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