Vaza-Barris Shelf is an important reproductive area for three shark species.

Between May 2002–February 2005, landings from an artisanal vessel operating within this area with bottom longlines at Praia do Mosqueiro, located at the mouth of the Vaza-Barris River, were monitored (Meneses et al. 2011). Fishing occurred at depths ranging between 6–42 m in areas with sandy, muddy, and rocky substrates (Meneses et al. 2011). Additionally, surface and bottom-set gillnet landings were monitored between January–February 2003 (Meneses et al. 2005). Between November 2017–March 2018, approximately two tons of shark landings were assessed to identify the species composition and maturity stage of landed specimens (Lima et al. 2018). Neonates were identified by the presence of an open umbilical scar (Lima et al. 2018). The primary fishing gear sampled was bottom gillnets (96%) along with bottom longlines (4%) (Lima et al. 2018).

In 2003, 27 Blacktip Sharks were captured in surface-set gillnets (Meneses et al. 2005). All individuals were sexually immature, with 85.2% classified as neonates (<70 cm total length [TL]; Meneses et al. 2005). Size-at-birth for Blacktip Sharks is 38–72 cm TL (Ebert et al. 2021). Between 2017–2018, Blacktip Sharks comprised 1% of the approximately two tons of shark landings, measuring ~69 cm TL on average (Lima et al. 2018).

Between May 2002–February 2005, 134 Brazilian Sharpnose Sharks were captured using bottom longlines, including 65 males (48.5%) measuring between 51.9–65.3 cm in TL and 69 females (51.5%) measuring between 52.5–73.3 cm TL, of which 31 (44.9% of females) were pregnant. This species was only recorded in the austral summer and autumn months. Pregnant females measured between 63.1–73.3 cm TL (Meneses et al. 2005). Between April 2014–April 2015, of 29 Brazilian Sharpnose Sharks captured, 12 were neonates with open umbilical scars (Andrade et al. 2016). Between June 2014–December 2015, 55 Sharpnose Sharks were captured in the area. Of these, 37 (67.3%) were Brazilian Sharpnose Sharks, of which 18 (58%) were neonates and 19 (79%) were juveniles (Santos et al. 2016). Size-at-birth for Brazilian Sharpnose Sharks is 33–34 cm TL (Ebert et al. 2021).

Between May 2002–February 2005, 636 Caribbean Sharpnose Sharks accounted for 74.2% of the captured sharks (Meneses et al. 2011). Individuals from all length classes were recorded including neonates, juveniles, and adults, with sizes ranging from 39.2–113.1 cm TL (Meneses et al. 2011). Size-at-birth for Caribbean Sharpnose Shark is 31–39 cm TL (Ebert et al. 2021). Between April 2014–April 2015, of 10 Caribbean Sharpnose Sharks captured, eight were neonates with open umbilical scars (Andrade et al. 2016). Between June 2014–December 2015, 55 Rhizoprionodon spp. captured in the area were acquired for stomach content analysis. Of these, 14 (25.4%) were Caribbean Sharpnose Sharks, of which 12 (39%) were neonates and two (8%) were juveniles (Santos et al. 2016). Between 2017–2018, Caribbean Sharpnose Sharks represented 78% of the landings, measuring 33–84.4 cm TL. Only 4.7% of recorded animals were adults; the remaining ones were neonates, young-of-the-year (YOY), and juveniles (Lima et al. 2018).