Maritimes Recreational Shark Fishery Derbies

Biological data collected from the recreational fishery is used to develop an assessment of stock status and the general health of the population, particularly that of blue sharks. Shark fishing derbies are held each year in waters off Nova Scotia, usually during the months of July, August and September.

These are commercial or community-sponsored events, and are not sponsored by DFO or the Shark Research Lab. However, the catches provide excellent samples for scientific examination, and thus all catches are closely monitored. The species most often caught is the blue shark.