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Sharks in Alaska: Species, Stingrays & Safety

Last checked November 3, 2026 against official sources.

On this page
  1. All 6 sharks, rays and other marine animals
  2. Lookalikes
  3. When they are active
  4. How to report
  5. What official sources say
  6. About this list
  7. Sources

NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center: There are three shark species commonly found in Alaskan waters: Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus), spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi), and salmon shark (Lamna ditropis).

This page lists 6 sharks, rays and other marine animals: all from NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center's Shark Research in Alaska. NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center gives a total of 3; the 6 here are the sharks, rays and other marine animals official sources name one by one.

All 6 sharks, rays and other marine animals

From A to Z.

Blue shark
Photo: Juergen Gangoly · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized

Blue shark

Prionace glauca

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Great white shark
Photo: Elias Levy · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Great white shark

Carcharodon carcharias

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Size
Born about 4 feet long; grows to about 20-21 feet and over 4,000 pounds (NOAA quick facts: up to 4,500 pounds).
How to recognize it
  • Torpedo-shaped body, conical snout, prominent keel at the base of a crescent-shaped tail
  • Large first dorsal fin, usually with a pointed tip
  • Broad, triangular, serrated teeth

Full Great white shark guide

No confirmed photo of Pacific sleeper shark

Pacific sleeper shark

Somniosus pacificus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alaska
This species is the primary species in the shark stock complex in the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands. NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center
No confirmed photo of Pacific spiny dogfish

Pacific spiny dogfish

Squalus suckleyi

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alaska
Spiny dogfish are the primary shark species in the Gulf of Alaska. NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center
No confirmed photo of Salmon shark

Salmon shark

Lamna ditropis

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.
Where in Alaska
Many salmon sharks feed in the coastal waters of the Gulf of Alaska, in particular Prince Alaska Department of Fish and Game
No confirmed photo of Six-gill shark

Six-gill shark

Hexanchus griseus

Not stated

Venom
No official source we use states whether this animal is venomous. That does not mean it is harmless: do not handle it.

Sharks and Marine Life people confuse

Great white shark or Salmon shark?

Great white shark
Photo: Elias Levy · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Great white shark Not stated

No confirmed photo of Salmon shark

Salmon shark Not stated

Salmon shark has a generally darker back, larger eye and shorter snout, white coloring above the pectoral fins, and pointed teeth without serrations.

Photos show typical adults; individuals vary. Never get close to compare.

When sharks, rays and other marine animals are active in Alaska

Records of sharks, rays and other marine animals in Alaska peak in July to August. They show when people record sharks, rays and other marine animals, not how many there are (about month bars).

399 records of sharks, rays and other marine animals in Alaska by month (GBIF, CC0 and CC BY records).

How to report

Report invasive species to the ADF&G Invasive Species Hotline 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748) or [email protected]. Report dangerous wildlife encounters with the ADF&G wildlife encounter form (https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=reportwildlifeencounter.main). Alaska Department of Fish and Game

What official sources say

Are there sharks in Alaska?

Yes. NOAA says three sharks are commonly found in Alaskan waters. Great white, blue and six-gill sharks occur occasionally. NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center

“There are three shark species commonly found in Alaskan waters: Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus), spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi), and salmon shark (Lamna ditropis).”

About this list

The species list comes from Shark Research in Alaska (NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center) (NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center, last updated August 14, 2023).

Venom labels come only from official sources and link to them; "Not stated" never means harmless. How labels work.

Sources

  1. Our Agency: Mission. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  2. Shark Research in Alaska. NOAA Fisheries, Alaska Fisheries Science Center. updated August 14, 2023; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “There are three shark species commonly found in Alaskan waters: Pacific sleeper shark (Somniosus pacificus), spiny dogfish (Squalus suckleyi), and salmon shark (Lamna ditropis).”
  3. Salmon Shark Species Profile. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
  4. How to Report an Invasive Species you saw in Alaska. Alaska Department of Fish and Game. undated page; checked November 3, 2026.
    Quoted passages (1)
    “Call the Invasive Species Hotline: 1-877-INVASIV (1-877-468-2748)”
  5. GBIF.org occurrence records, human observations licensed CC0 1.0 or CC BY 4.0 only, accessed November 3, 2026. The datasets behind these counts are listed on our Sources page.