Sharks and Rays of Virginia's Seaside Bays

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Abstract
Seven sharks (Carcharias taurus, Mustelus canis, Negaprion brevirostris, Carchar hinus milberti, Sphyrna zygaena, Squalus acanthias, andSquatina dumerili) and six batoids (Raja eglanteria, Dasyatis centroura, D. sayi, Gymnura altavela, G. micrura, andRhinoptera bonasus) are reported from the Seaside of the Eastern Shore of Virginia.Mustelus canis may be the most common Seaside shark, but youngCarchar hinus milberti are common enough to support a small commercial fishery, and the remainder of the species are not uncommon.Negaprion brevirostris is reported for the first time from Virginia; four males taken from the Wachapreague area in 1961. Deep channels and lack of a salinity barrier may explain what seems to be a rich Seaside elasmobranch fauna. The shark fauna seems more closely related to the outer coasts of Maryland, Delaware, and New Jersey than to Chesapeake Bay, although more collections in the lower bay are needed.

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