Shark, mako

Scientific name:  Isurus oxyrinchus
Market name:  Mako shark
Common names:  Shortfin mako, blue pointer, bonito shark, Atlantic mako, Pacific mako

The Mako Shark Story

Feeding on some of the world’s fastest tunas and billfish, the mako shark is at the very apex of the marine food chain. It’s also among the best-tasting of the hundreds of shark species around the world. There are two mako species: Isurus oxyrinchus, or shortfin mako, and I. paucus, or longfin mako. Oxyrinchus is the more common of the two and is the commercially significant species. Mako shark is an excellent alternative to swordfish and sometimes mislabeled as such. To distinguish mako from swordfish, check the skin; mako feels like sandpaper, while swordfish is smooth. Makos are  harvested from subtropical or temperate waters worldwide. U.S. fisheries exist off Southern California, in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida and following the Gulf Stream north to New England. Makos are usually taken as a bycatch of longliners. The shark’s maximum weight is 1,500 pounds, but 125 pounds is the average market size.

Product Profile

Mako shark is moist and slightly sweet, with a full-bodied, meaty taste.  Both flavor and texture are similar to swordfish, but the flesh of the mako is moister, and the meat is not as sweet. Fresh, raw mako is very soft and ivory-pink or a muddy, reddish color that turns ivory white and firm when cooked.

While the lean, dense meat looks very similar to swordfish, it lacks the whorls of the swordfish steak.

You Should Know...

Like all sharks, makos carry urea in their bloodstreams. They must be bled immediately and iced to prevent the urea in the tissues from turning to ammonia. If you smell ammonia, don’t accept the fish.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size: 100g/3.5 oz. (raw, mixed shark species)
Amount per serving
Calories 130
Fat Calories 40.5
Total Fat 4.5 g
Saturated Fat 0.9 g
Cholesterol 51 mg
Sodium 79 mg
Protein 20.9 g
Omega-3 0.9 g

Cooking Tips

Mako can be marinated, blackened, cubed for use in soups and stews, or chunked for kebabs. Wrapping or covering the meat during cooking keeps the moisture in. Trim red meat away before cooking, since bloodlines can impart a bitter taste.

Substitutions: Swordfish, Tuna, Other sharks

Cooking Methods

Bake, Broil, Grill, Sauté, Steam

Primary Product Forms

Fresh

• H&G (belly flap removed)
• Wheels
• Slabs or chunks
• Fillets (whole side, skinless)
• Loins
• Steaks

Frozen

• H&G (belly flap removed)
• Wheels
• Slabs or chunks
• Fillets (whole side, skinless)
• Loins
• Steaks

Value-added

• Smoked

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