Consumption of shark products: The interface of sustainability, trade (mis)labelling, human health and human rights

Abstract

Sharks and rays evolved 450 million years ago, during the Late Ordovician Period. However, during the modern Anthropocene, shark populations have declined at considerable rates, and recent global assessments indicate about one in three species is threatened with extinction. A notable reason for this elevated extinction risk is overfishing linked to increased demand for shark fins and other products. Here, we review multiple dimensions of consuming shark products, ranging from stock sustainability, product (mis)labelling and trade, the human health implications of consuming shark products, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and slavery and labour abuses in the fishing industry. We conclude that traceability and increased transparency in seafood supply chains is essential to overcome obstacles to consumption of sustainable, ethical and healthy shark products. We also provide a decision tree outlining steps in consumer choice that would foster such consumption. Our aim is to provide a holistic view on issues concerning the consumption of shark products that will help policymakers, the public, management and law enforcement agencies to advocate for ecologically‐ and ethically sustainable consumption of shark products and thereby empower the general public to make informed decisions on which shark products they consume.

Regional hotspots and drivers of shark meat consumption in India

“…Restaurant owners were most concerned by the issue of heavy metal toxicity in sharks, as compared to ecological or sustainability issues. While metal toxicity has been well described in adult sharks, like Hammerhead and Blacktip sharks (García Barcia et al, 2022), small-bodied, lowtrophic level species, seen in our study, also show high heavy metal concentrations (Kim et al, 2019, who show above permissible concentrations of arsenic in small bodied sharks; Hasan et al, 2023). Hence raising restaurant and consumer awareness about the health risks from eating sharks can produce voluntary behavior changes, especially among these newly emerging consumer groups (Souza-Araujo et al, 2021).…”

“…Certifications or labels for sustainably sourced seafood are commonly used to foster sustainable consumption, particularly in developed countries (Richter & Klöckner, 2017), and has been advocated for sharks as well (Hasan et al, 2023). Elasmobranch consumption in India can be regulated in restaurants if consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainably sourced meat, which may be possible among middle and upper class consumers.…”

“…Elasmobranch consumption in India can be regulated in restaurants if consumers are willing to pay a premium for sustainably sourced meat, which may be possible among middle and upper class consumers. However, this would require supply chain traceability as well as awareness and positive attitudes in consumers (Hasan et al, 2023), which are currently limited in the Indian context. Further research is needed to address these data gaps and understand if this can be a feasible conservation measure in developing countries like India.…”

Consumer perceptions of stingrays in coastal areas of Indonesia

“…Be that as it may, in many emerging nations, the subject of fisheries' manageability isn't the fundamental driver of shoppers' decisions. In these nations, individuals might consume imperiled species since they will most likely be unable to follow through on a top-notch cost for reasonable choices (Hasan et al 2023). Utilization conditions and social environments that make it difficult for buyers to take part in sustainable, conscious behavior (Teufer and Grabner-Kräuter 2023) result in sustainable development is a major challenge facing society around the world today.…”