Maturing to a length of 30 to 50 inches and a weight of 20 pounds, the spiny dogfish is the smallest of sharks. Commercially fished, this slow-growing and long-lived shark has many uses and has historically been susceptible to overfishing.
Liver Function
The oils in the liver of the spiny dogfish shark (and all sharks) help regulate its buoyancy. Deep water sharks tend to have more oil stored in their livers.
Squalene
Squalene is one of the main components of shark liver oils. It is used in many cosmetics, such as makeup, lotions and anti-aging creams. Sold also as a supplement, it is often touted as an anti-oxidant and cancer treatment.
Early Uses
The liver of the spiny dogfish was originally harvested for machine and lamp oils, but it was as a source of vitamin A that it had the largest economic impact. From 1940 to 1944, the spiny dogfish was fished to excess to make vitamin A. The advent of synthetic vitamin A shut down much of this market and, currently, the spiny dogfish is not considered endangered.
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