SQUALENE CONTENT IN LIVERS FROM DEEP-SEA SHARKS CAUGHT IN CANARY ISLAND WATERS

The content of liver oil from deep-sea sharks caught in Canary waters was examined to ascertain whether the species studied might be a sourc e of commercially valuable squalene. Sixty-three sharks caught at dept hs of 600-2100 m represented seven species: Centroscymnus coelolepis, Centroscymnus cryptacanthus, Centrophorus squamosus, Centrophorus lusi tanicus, Deania histricosa, Deania profundorum and Etmopterus princeps . The relative weight of the liver ranged from 15% to 26% of total bod y weight and 59-82% of the Liver wet weight was oil. The major lipid c lasses were hydrocarbons (45-77% in liver oil), as is typical of most deep-water sharks. High concentrations of squalene in the livers (27-6 1% of liver wet weight) suggested that sharks caught in deep waters of f the Canary Islands could be a rich source of squalene.