On the eve of Holy Week, a time of year when fish consumption traditionally increases in Argentina, the conservation organization **WCS Argentina** issued a key warning to the community: to avoid the purchase and consumption of **gatuzo**, a small shark that **[exclusively inhabits the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean](https://noticiasambientales.com/animales/tiburones-en-chubut-que-especies-habitan-y-por-que-tienen-un-rol-clave/)** and is **[critically endangered](https://noticiasambientales.com/animales/tiburones-en-chubut-que-especies-habitan-y-por-que-tienen-un-rol-clave/)**.
Also known as *palo rosado* in some fish markets, the **gatuzo (Mustelus schmitti)** is the most commercially exploited shark species in the country, according to data from the National Institute of Fisheries Research and Development (INIDEP). However, its situation is alarming: in the last 40 years, its population has decreased by over 90%, mainly due to unsustainable fishing practices, both commercial and recreational.
“We want to alert consumers that the gatuzo is one of the sharks in the Argentine Sea and that **[it is endangered](https://noticiasambientales.com/animales/tiburones-en-chubut-que-especies-habitan-y-por-que-tienen-un-rol-clave/)**,” stated Juan Martín Cuevas, coordinator of the ray and shark conservation program at WCS Argentina.
## A vulnerable species crucial for ecosystem balance
Gatuzo is a **[slow-reproducing species with low fecundity](#)**: females start giving birth at the age of eight and deliver between one and 16 pups per year. These characteristics increase their vulnerability to indiscriminate fishing and hinder their recovery.
The **[importance of conserving the gatuzo](#)** and other shark species is not only biological but also ecological. As top predators in the marine ecosystem, sharks play a key role in **[regulating food chains](#)**. Their disappearance disrupts ecosystems and threatens the health of the sea and the human communities that depend on it.
Out of the 55 shark species that live or migrate through the Argentine Sea, **[at least 20 are at risk of extinction, and 15 are endemic](#)**, like the gatuzo, which means that if they disappear here, they will become globally extinct.
## A call to act and consume responsibly
WCS Argentina insists on the urgency of **[implementing a temporary moratorium](#)** on gatuzo fishing to allow for its recovery, as well as the need to move towards more selective and sustainable fishing methods.
The organization also **[promotes awareness campaigns](#)** for consumers to make informed and responsible decisions. “During Holy Week, we encourage the community to be allies in shark conservation, to check which species are being sold in fish markets, and to avoid buying gatuzo or other threatened species,” Cuevas emphasized.
With this warning, WCS aims to **[alleviate pressure on an emblematic species of the South Atlantic](#)** and protect marine biodiversity, at a crucial time to become aware of the impact of our consumption decisions.
## **[What is the gatuzo like?](#)**
The gatuzo is a critically endangered shark, grayish with white spots, characterized by having **[mosaic-shaped teeth](#)**, as well as:
– **Physical characteristics:** At birth, they measure between 24 and 36 cm, with a maximum size of 90 cm for males and 109 cm for females. These animals stand out for their grayish color with white spots, darker on the back, and short head, with a moderately long snout and narrow internasal space.
– **Habitat and diet:** This species can be found in temperate coastal areas, where they feed on crabs, crustaceans, invertebrates, and small fish.
– **Reproduction:** This fish has aplacental viviparous reproduction, with a gestation period of 12 months. Regarding males, they reach sexual maturity between 3 and 6 years, while females mature between 4 and 7 years. Additionally, they can have 1 to 14 pups per litter.
– **Conservation status:** The species is critically endangered, according to the IUCN, due to its high commercial value. This is because of its mild and delicate flavor, making its meat a versatile and simple ingredient that can easily be combined with others, not to mention it is the most complete source of protein.
**Source:** WCS Argentina.
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