Lemon shark  (Negaprion brevirostris)

The lemon shark is caught in commercial and recreational fisheries; for their meat, skin, fins for soup, and liver for vitamin-rich oil (2). There is some evidence indicating that this exploitation is depleting populations in the eastern Pacific and western Atlantic (1) (5). The shallow, coastal nursery grounds are susceptible to human-induced habitat degradation (1) (5), particularly mangrove swamps which are being destroyed to make way for shore front hotels and shops throughout the Gulf of Mexico, Bahamas and Caribbean region (6).

The lemon shark is not currently considered to be at risk from extinction, and there are no known specific conservation measures in place. However, it may gain some protection from the United Nations International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks. This requires that signatory states, such as Ecuador, Mexico and the United States, implement a national programme for the conservation and management of shark stocks, and carry out regular assessments of stocks (7).