Found everywhere; one of the species Asians use for shark fin soup. Slices of verdesca resemble swordfish, and are often cooked the same way: grilled with lemon, baked, simmered with anchovies, capers and tomatoes, etc.
Though overfished around Italy, blue sharks are not yet a threatened species (other species are). But as with tuna, there are concerns about mercury levels in some of these sharks, and pregnant women are warned against eating too much of it.
Image by scienzaesalute