Social, Economic, and Regulatory Drivers of the Shark Fin Trade

Clarke, Shelley; Milner‐Gulland, E. J.; Bjørndal, Trond

doi:10.1086/mre.22.3.42629561

Cited by 154 publications

(162 citation statements)

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“…could attain around US$396 kg −1 . More recently, the fins of guitarfishes including Rhynchobatus and Rhina are considered by East Asian shark fin traders as being the sources of the best quality fin needles for consumption (Clarke et al 2007). Targeting of Rhynchobatus for their fins occurs widely, such as in the Southwest Indian Ocean LDC region off northern Madagascar (Hopkins 2011), Mozambique (Pierce et al 2008) and off Zanzibar, Tanzania, where this activity was believed by some fishers to have been driving de clines (Schaeffer 2004).…”

Section: Economic Valuementioning

confidence: 99%

Are guitarfishes the next sawfishes? Extinction risk and an urgent call for conservation action

Moore¹

2017

Endang. Species. Res.

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Focusing on the most critical conservation priorities to prevent extinctions risks missing declines of lower priority taxa that may become tomorrow's emergency. Sawfishes (5 species) underwent catastrophic but largely unnoticed global declines in the latter part of the 20th century, and are now the subject of intensive research and conservation efforts. Guitarfishes (at least 55 species) share many characteristics with sawfishes: they are shark-like batoids with an often large body, prefer sedimentary habitats in warm shallow coastal waters exposed to intensive fisheries, and have high value fins and good quality meat. Guitarfishes represent a unique element of evolution and biodiversity and are vital components of complex coastal socio-ecological systems. Existing global IUCN Red List of Threatened Species assessments for nearly 60% of guitarfish species are 10 or more years old, and over 70% of species are either in threatened categories or Data Deficient. Recently described taxa not yet assessed include those likely to be at risk of extinction. Severe declines and localised extinctions have already been reported for guitarfishes. In notable contrast to sawfishes, total extinction of several guitarfish species is plausible given small distributions occurring solely in developing or least developed countries where conservation is highly challenging. Furthermore, species identification of guitarfishes is often problematic and they may lack the appeal often needed to promote conservation. To ensure that they do not follow the same trajectory as sawfishes, there is an urgent need for comprehensive and coordinated action on guitarfishes, which in many cases could integrate with sawfish conservation efforts.

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Section: Economic Valuementioning

confidence: 99%

Are guitarfishes the next sawfishes? Extinction risk and an urgent call for conservation action

Moore¹

2017

Endang. Species. Res.

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“…Considered a part of the Chinese culture at least since the Sung dynasty (AD 960-1279), shark fin soup is a traditional dish served for the Japanese imperial lineages [18], since the risk and difficulty associated to its capture is regarded as a tribute to the emperor and its lineage [19,20]. Shark fins are also regarded as aphrodisiac and tonic [20], related with the traditional belief that eating them could bring health benefits.…”

Section: Brief Cultural Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Shark fins are also regarded as aphrodisiac and tonic [20], related with the traditional belief that eating them could bring health benefits. An additional social parameter should be considered since in China, seafood consumption is associated with the concept of wealth and prosperity [15].…”

Section: Brief Cultural Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ranging from U$10 up to U$180 per bowl, depending on the species and the amount of fins used, Chinese consumers consider the species exclusiveness and some properties of the fin such as its color, thickness, and texture of the fin rays [20] when buying them for soup preparation. At the end of the line, these features directly influence which shark species are the most desirable for consumption and also the most exploited ones.…”

Section: Brief Cultural Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the high values associated with the shark fins market, and the fact that it is widely accepted as the major factor for the shark populations decline, international managers still consider sharks as a by catch rather than a group of species which indeed require management from international authorities [13,20,[23][24][25].…”

Section: Molecular Markers and Shark Species Identificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Shark Finning and the Molecular Identification of Shark Species: Review and Perspectives

Crl¹,

Silva²,

Amorim³

et al. 2017

J Oceanogr Mar Res

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Worshipped and revered in several Indo-Pacific countries, and mostly feared among the western world, sharks are an old group of vertebrates dating back to the Devonian-Silurian boundary (~400Ma). Constantly represented as human predator by occidental movies, sharks have a spiritual appeal for several Indo-Pacific cultures. In contrast with this spiritual significance, in China sharks are a fierce animal believed to give strength and health for those whom consume their fins. They are also considered as a signal of prosperity and wealth. Fished for their meat and fins, several species are considered under high threat and are now facing extinction, with about 93% of nominal species included on the IUCN Red List. Mainly relying on the inefficiency of law enforcement authorities, the shark finning industry is a growing business with global scale actors and consequences. Understand the relation between spiritual beliefs, wealth and vitality, and the consumption of shark fins and meat is needed to precisely delineate the shark finning problem and to the development of efficient management and conservation policies. Molecular methods provide a valuable option for the identification of shark meat and body parts such as fins, although it still not consensual which one is the most appropriate.

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Reef shark declines in remote atolls highlight the need for multi‐faceted conservation action

Graham

Spalding²,

Sheppard

2010

Aquatic Conservation

139

128

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ABSTRACT1. The decline of large-bodied predatory species in the oceans is a concern both from a sustainability perspective and because such species can have important ecological roles. Sharks are particularly vulnerable to fishing as their life histories are characterized by late age at maturity, large body size, and low fecundity. 4. Poaching in the archipelago, is the most likely cause of these declines, highlighted by a number of illegal vessels containing large numbers of sharks arrested since 1996. The data highlight that shark populations, even in remote, otherwise pristine, marine areas, are vulnerable to distant fishing fleets, and a range of strategies will need to be used in concert for their conservation.

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Social, Economic, and Regulatory Drivers of the Shark Fin Trade

Cited by 154 publications

References 0 publications

Are guitarfishes the next sawfishes? Extinction risk and an urgent call for conservation action

Are guitarfishes the next sawfishes? Extinction risk and an urgent call for conservation action

Shark Finning and the Molecular Identification of Shark Species: Review and Perspectives

Reef shark declines in remote atolls highlight the need for multi‐faceted conservation action

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