Species composition and catch of sharks, rays and skates in Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Thuan provinces of Vietnam

Research on 2,626 individuals of sharks, rays and skates in total of 123 fishing boats were sampled during 2015 to 2016 in Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Thuan provinces. The results identified 77 species of sharks, rays and skates belong to 22 families and 10 orders in Ba Ria - Vung Tau and Binh Thuan provinces. Of these, 57 species were recorded in Ba Ria - Vung Tau and 48 species in Binh Thuan. The families were found in the highest number of species such as Carcharhinidae family with 9 species, Dasyatidae family with 19 species and Rajidae family with 5 species. The total catch of sharks, rays and skates was 23,599 tons in Ba Ria - Vung Tau and was 24,355 tons in Binh Thuan. Sharks, rays and skates ratio made up from 0.2% to 0.5% in total catch landing from landing sites. Total length of sharks ranges from 21.0 cm to 366.0 cm, disc length of rays fluctuates from 11.0 cm to 248.0 cm and skates have a range from 0.7 cm to 152.0 cm in disc length.