gummy shark for dogs
WHY DO WE STOCK SHARK? and IS IT A SUSTAINABLE PROTEIN?
Gummy sharks are a small species of shark which are fished at sustainable levels in Australia. There is currently no indication that these sharks are over-fished. You may commonly know gummy shark as flake, our fav from the fish & chip shop right?
So is gummy shark an ethical & sustainable choice for dogs?
WHAT IS ‘FLAKE’?
Did you know there are other species of shark that fall under the umbrella term of flake? But gummy shark is the most commonly used species that we see most in our local fish & chip shops.
They are found in temperate waters & occur from Geraldton in Western Australia around to Jervis Bay in New South Wales & Tasmania. There is also undefined numbers in Eastern Australia from Newcastle to the Clarence River.
HOW CAN THEY BE FISHED AT SUSTAINABLE LEVELS?
The biology of Gummy Sharks are different from other familiar apex predators like the great white, tiger shark or hammerhead. They are known as ground sharks.
They are a fast growing species
They have a fast reproductive rate
They eat from invertebrates in the sand & mud
Fisheries are controlled under a total allowable catch or quota. This means the catch of this fish is restricted by weight. Commercial fishermen are required to fill in records of their catches. This helps keep record of how much shark is being caught.
HOW ARE GUMMY SHARKS CAUGHT?
They are mostly caught using gillnets, longlines or sometimes trawl nets.
gillnets have minimal impact on the seafloor as they are stationary nets. Larger predatory sharks & marine animals will bounce off and smaller fish can fit through the mesh.
Longlines cause very little damage to the seafloor. Gear can sometimes become snagged and break off, but this isn’t a common occurrence. The fish are brought to the surface alive, therefore if the fisherman has caught the wrong species they can be returned to the waters.
Bottom trawling can catch unwanted species of fish, this is known as bycatch and is monitored by on-board fishery observers. his method is not used as often for these reasons.
HUMAN CONSUMPTION
Gummy sharks are caught for human consumption. Their boneless fillets have made them popular across Australia. Unlike some other sharks, there are no issues with mercury or heavy ,metal accumulation. This is due to the gummy sharks being fast growing. The heavy metals don’t have time to build up in their flesh.
They are considered high protein with natural fats in omega 3. The skin is incredibly tough.
GUMMY SHARK FOR DOGS
The off cuts from these gummy shark fillets often include portions that are not suitable for humans. So instead of letting these go to waste they are used to make delicious dog treats. By repurposing these off cuts, manufacturers can offer a sustainable product that reduces waste.
And as you know, here at HHT we are all about reducing waste and supporting a nose to tail ethos. This is why we stock so many different shark products!
Let us know which HHT shark snack is your favourite!