Milk Shark
Rhizoprionodon acutus
Carcharhinidae family · Coastal
UAE Fishing Regulations
Shark Catch Restrictions — MOCCAE
Scope: Fishing and trade/sales banned — including imported stock
Authority: MOCCAE · Federal Law No. 23 of 1999; CITES Resolution Conf. 12.6
A small, slender inshore shark common in UAE coastal and estuarine waters. Gets its unusual name from an old belief in India that eating it increases milk production in nursing mothers. A harmless species to humans and an important indicator of inshore ecosystem health.
Species Stats
Max Length
178 cm
Max Weight
20 kg
Depth Range
0–200 m
Diet
Small fish, squid, crustaceans
Habitat
Shallow inshore coastal waters, estuaries
Local Name (Arabic)
قرش الحليب
Fun Facts
- 1
Named after an old folk belief — not actually associated with milk production.
- 2
One of the most common inshore sharks in the UAE.
- 3
Harmless to humans and frequently released by anglers who catch it incidentally.