This important and exciting title represents the first authoritative volume focussed on pelagic (open ocean) sharks as a group. Virtually every pelagic shark expert in the world has contributed to this landmark publication which includes the latest data and knowledge on pelagic shark biology, fisheries, management, and conservation.

Pelagic sharks face unprecedented levels of exploitation in all the world's oceans through both direct fisheries and by-catch, and effective management for these species is contingent upon solid science and data, which this book brings together for the first time. All those involved in shark biology will need to have a copy of this book.Content:
Chapter 1 Introduction to Sharks of the Open Ocean (pages 1–13): Ellen K. Pikitch, Merry D. Camhi and Elizabeth A. Babcock
Chapter 2 Pelagic Elasmobranch Diversity (pages 14–23): Leonard J. V. Compagno
Chapter 3 The Reproductive Biology of Pelagic Elasmobranchs (pages 24–53): Franklin F. Snelson, Brenda L. Roman and George H. Burgess
Chapter 4 The Biology and Ecology of Thresher Sharks (Alopiidae) (pages 60–68): Susan E. Smith, Randall C. Rasmussen, Darlene A. Ramon and Gregor M. Cailliet
Chapter 5 The Biology and Ecology of the White Shark, Carcharodon Carcharias (pages 69–81): Barry D. Bruce
Chapter 6 Case Study: White Shark Movements in the North Pacific Pelagic Ecosystem (pages 82–86): Andre M. Boustany, Kevin C. M. Weng, Scot D. Anderson, Peter Pyle and Barbara A. Block
Chapter 7 The Biology and Ecology of the Shortfin Mako Shark, Isurus Oxyrinchus (pages 87–94): John D. Stevens
Chapter 8 The Biology and Ecology of the Salmon Shark, Lamna Ditropis (pages 95–104): Kenneth J. Goldman and John A. Musick
Chapter 9 The Biology and Ecology of the Porbeagle Shark, Lamna Nasus (pages 105–113): Malcolm P. Francis, Lisa J. Natanson and Steven E. Campana
Chapter 10 The Biology and Ecology of the Silky Shark, Carcharhinus Falciformis (pages 114–127): Ramon Bonfil
Chapter 11 The Biology and Ecology of the Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Carcharhinus Longimanus (pages 128–139): Ramon Bonfil, Shelley Clarke and Hideki Nakano
Chapter 12 The Biology and Ecology of the Blue Shark, Prionace Glauca (pages 140–151): Hideki Nakano and John D. Stevens
Chapter 13 The Biology and Ecology of the Pelagic Stingray, Pteroplatytrygon Violacea (Bonaparte, 1832) (pages 152–159): Julie A. Neer
Chapter 14 A Global Overview of Commercial Fisheries for Open Ocean Sharks (pages 166–192): Merry D. Camhi, Elizabeth Lauck, Ellen K. Pikitch and Elizabeth A. Babcock
Chapter 15 Recreational Fishing for Pelagic Sharks Worldwide (pages 193–204): Elizabeth A. Babcock
Chapter 16 Case Study: Blue and Mako Shark Catch Rates in US Atlantic Recreational Fisheries as Potential Indices of Abundance (pages 205–212): Gregory Skomal, Elizabeth A. Babcock and Ellen K. Pikitch
Chapter 17 Catches of Pelagic Sharks by Subsurface Longline Fisheries in the South Atlantic Ocean during the Last Century: A Review of Available Data with Emphasis on Uruguay and Brazil (pages 213–229): Fabio H. V. Hazin, Matt K. Broadhurst, Alberto F. Amorim, Carlos A. Arfelli and Andres Domingo
Chapter 18 Case Study: Blue Shark Catch?Rate Patterns from the Portuguese Swordfish Longline Fishery in the Azores (pages 230–235): Alexandre Aires?da?Silva, Rogerio Lopes Ferreira and Joao Gil Pereira
Chapter 19 Case Study: Trends in Blue Shark Abundance in the Western North Atlantic As Determined by a Fishery?Independent Survey (pages 236–241): Robert E. Hueter and Colin A. Simpfendorfer
Chapter 20 Case Study: Elasmobranch Bycatch in the Pelagic Longline Fishery off the Southeastern United States, 1992–1997 (pages 242–246): Lawrence R. Beerkircher, Enric Cortes and Mahmood S. Shivji
Chapter 21 Pelagic Shark Fisheries in the Indian Ocean (pages 247–259): Malcolm J. Smale
Chapter 22 Case Study: The Bycatch of Pelagic Sharks in Australia's Tuna Longline Fisheries (pages 260–267): John D. Stevens and Sally E. Wayte
Chapter 23 Case Study: Catch and Management of Pelagic Sharks in Hawaii and the US Western Pacific Region (pages 268–274): Paul J. Dalzell, R. Michael Laurs and Wayne R. Haight
Chapter 24 Case Study: Pelagic Shark Fisheries along the West Coast of Mexico (pages 275–282): Oscar Sosa?Nishizaki, J. Fernando Marquez?Farias and Carlos J. Villavicencio?Garayzar
Chapter 25 Intrinsic Rates of Increase in Pelagic Elasmobranchs (pages 288–297): Susan E. Smith, David W. Au and Christina Show
Chapter 26 Shark Productivity and Reproductive Protection, and a Comparison with Teleosts (pages 298–308): David W. Au, Susan E. Smith and Christina Show
Chapter 27 Comparative Life History and Demography of Pelagic Sharks (pages 309–322): Enric Cortes
Chapter 28 Molecular Markers and Genetic Population Structure of Pelagic Sharks (pages 323–333): Edward J. Heist
Chapter 29 Case Study: Rapid Species Identification of Pelagic Shark Tissues Using Genetic Approaches (pages 334–338): Mahmood S. Shivji, Melissa Pank, Lisa J. Natanson, Nancy E. Kohler and Michael J. Stanhope
Chapter 30 Stock Structure of the Blue Shark (Prionace Glauca) in the North Atlantic Ocean Based on Tagging Data (pages 339–350): Nancy E. Kohler and Patricia A. Turner
Chapter 31 Why Are Bayesian Methods Useful for the Stock Assessment of Sharks? (pages 351–368): Murdoch K. McAllister, Ellen K. Pikitch and Elizabeth A. Babcock
Chapter 32 Embracing Movement and Stock Structure for Assessment of Galeorhinus Galeus Harvested off Southern Australia (pages 369–392): Terence I. Walker, Bruce L. Taylor, Lauren P. Brown and Andre E. Punt
Chapter 33 Conservation Status of Pelagic Elasmobranchs (pages 397–417): Merry D. Camhi
Chapter 34 Domestic and International Management for Pelagic Sharks (pages 418–444): Merry D. Camhi, Sonja V. Fordham and Sarah L. Fowler
Chapter 35 The Rise and Fall (Again) of the Porbeagle Shark Population in the Northwest Atlantic (pages 445–461): Steven E. Campana, Warren Joyce, Linda Marks, Peter Hurley, Lisa J. Natanson, Nancy E. Kohler, Christopher F. Jensen, Joseph J. Mello, Harold L. Pratt, Sigmund Myklevoll and Shelton Harley
Chapter 36 Methods to Reduce Bycatch Mortality in Longline Fisheries (pages 462–471): Daniel L. Erickson and Steven A. Berkeley
Chapter 37 Data Collection, Research, and Assessment Efforts for Pelagic Sharks by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (pages 472–477): Elizabeth A. Babcock and Hideki Nakano
Chapter 38 Pelagic Sharks and the FAO International Plan of Action for the Conservation and Management of Sharks (pages 478–492): Rachel D. Cavanagh, Sarah L. Fowler and Merry D. Camhi