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The silky shark is the second most common shark in Southeast Asia's dried fin markets and is managed in the Atlantic Ocean by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) and by three Indo‐Pacific regional fisheries management organizations (RMFOs). The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna reports ∼ 7% of global silky landings but there is a moratorium on the export of their fins. During a 4‐year period (2014–2017) we used genetic differentiation observed between Atlantic and Indo‐Pacific silky sharks to assess the contribution of Atlantic individuals to fins randomly obtained in the two largest shark fin markets in the world, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, China (N = 604). We did not detect any Atlantic fins in either market despite robust sampling effort with an estimated Indo‐Pacific contribution of 99.8% to these markets. These findings indicate that supply chains for silky shark fins in Hong Kong and Guangzhou primarily originate in the Indo‐Pacific and are mainly under the purview of three Regional Fisheries Management Organizations. Our results are consistent with the possibility that ICCAT parties have achieved high compliance with the ban on silky sharks. We suggest research and monitoring improvements that could enhance our understanding of the global trade of silky sharks and enable better fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Trade‐driven overexploitation threatens many sharks. Twelve of the world's most vulnerable shark species have been listed on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) to regulate internationally traded products such as meat and dried fins. CITES records indicate that Hong Kong was the world's top legal importer of dried fins from listed sharks in 2015 (N = 8 species at that time), but traded a relatively small volume, with a few partners, in a small number of shipments (16). In contrast two CITES Appendix II listed hammerheads were consistently the fourth and fifth most common species (out of >80) in processed fin trimmings (N = 9,200) collected randomly from the Hong Kong retail dried fin market from February 2014 to December 2016 and were found in 100% of sampling events and in 66% of sampled retail vendors. This difference, and the fact that exporting nations previously known to land these species were not among those to report trade to CITES, suggest that listed species were often imported without CITES documentation in 2015. There are a number of incentives for trade hubs to meet their obligations to this treaty, which they could achieve by scaling up monitoring capacity and increasing inspection efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Protecting sharks from overexploitation has become global priority after widespread population declines have occurred. Tracking catches and trade on a species-specific basis has proven challenging, in part due to difficulties in identifying processed shark products such as fins, meat, and liver oil. This has hindered efforts to implement regulations aimed at promoting sustainable use of commercially important species and protection of imperiled species. Genetic approaches to identify shark products exist but are typically based on sequencing or amplifying large DNA regions and may fail to work on heavily processed products in which DNA is degraded. Here, we describe a novel multiplex PCR mini-barcode assay based on two short fragments of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene. This assay can identify to species all sharks currently listed on the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and most shark species present in the international trade. It achieves species diagnosis based on a single PCR and one to two downstream DNA sequencing reactions. The assay is capable of identifying highly processed shark products including fins, cooked shark fin soup, and skin-care products containing liver oil. This is a straightforward and reliable identification method for data collection and enforcement of regulations implemented for certain species at all governance levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A total of four reef fish species: Amblyeleotris japonica, Halichoeres hartzfeldii, Canthigaster papua and a Parapriacanthus species, are reported for the first time in Hong Kong. Methods: The specimens were discovered during underwater reef fish surveys. About 20 individuals of one Parapricanthus species were found at Tai Chau. A single Amblyeleotris japonica and a single Halichoeres hartzfeldii were both observed at the west coast of north Ninepin Island. One individual of Canthigaster papua was found at Clearwater Bay. Results: The likelihood of these four species having been artificially introduced into Hong Kong waters is discussed and eliminated. Comparison of these four species is made against six other species previously encountered in Hong Kong waters that were not already documented in local records and suspected to be artificially introduced. Conclusions: Four reef fish species, including Amblyeleotris japonica, Halichoeres hartzfeldii, Canthigaster papua and a Parapriacanthus species, are reported for the first time in Hong Kong. Details on the sighting records, locations, habitats and behavior of the observed individuals are described. The validity of the natural origin of these fish is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shark fin is one of Asia's most valued dried seafood products, with over 80 shark species traded in Hong Kong [HK]. We analyzed processed shark fins from mainland China and HK markets (n = 267) for mercury, methyl‑mercury, and arsenic, to inform consumers, policy makers and public health officials on the health risks of ingesting fins from nine of the most common shark species in the fin trade. Fins from all species frequently exceed Hg limits established by HK authorities. Most of the mercury found is in the form of methyl‑mercury (69.0 ± 33.5%). Five species surpass methyl‑mercury PTWIs and blue shark fins can exceed inorganic arsenic BMDL 0.5 . Species-of-origin was a significant predictor of heavy metal concentrations, with higher mercury concentrations associated with coastal sharks and lower arsenic levels found with increasing shark trophic level. Species-specific labeling would help consumers avoid shark fin products that pose the highest health risk., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest All authors state that, to the best of our knowledge, there are no actual or potential conflicts of interest involved in this paper. That includes any financial, personal or other relationships with other people or organizations within three years of beginning the submitted work that could inappropriately influence, or be perceived to influence, our work., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)