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One third of chondrichthyan species (sharks, rays, and chimeras) are threatened with extinction, mainly due to unsustainable fishing. Large accessible international markets for meat and luxury products like dried fins can help drive overfishing by encouraging targeted capture or retention of high‐value export species. If this is common, then species in international trade could have heightened extinction risk. Here, we examined the species composition of the Hong Kong shark fin market from 2014 to 2018, finding that traded species disproportionately occur in threatened categories (70.9%) and all premium value species are threatened. A small number of cosmopolitan species dominate the trade, but noncosmopolitan coastal species are still traded at concerning levels given their limited distribution. These coastal species are not generally subject to retention prohibitions, fisheries management, or international trade regulations and without management many could become extinct. The conservation potential of international trade regulations alone for coastal chondrichthyans depends on the extent to which overfishing is driven by export markets; socioeconomic studies of coastal fishing communities are needed to make this determination. Nonetheless, adding international trade regulations for more coastal shark species that are in the fin trade could prompt broad engagement with overfishing in nations lacking effective management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global demand for shark and ray products has fuelled a lucrative international trade, driving large population declines as a consequence. This high-volume trade exceeds the capacity of nations to monitor their trade and enforce international trade regulations, leaving them susceptible to international trade sanctions. Here, a multi-criteria decision analysis was used to examine global trade levels and regulatory controls associated with the world's shark and ray trade to prioritize international genetic capacity building assistance to implement the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendix II shark and ray listings. A total of 76 nations were identified as priority nations to collaborate in a genetic implementation program. Improving the capacity of nations to detect CITES Appendix II shark and rays bound for international markets using a genetic program can aid as an additional tool to enhance trade-monitoring and enforcement efforts to improve the conservation and management of commercially important and threatened shark and ray populations. • Species-specific data of shark landings, discards, and traded products is needed. • Countries were objectively ranked to receive genetic capacity building assistance. • Implementation of CITES regulations met only through collaborative initiatives. • Molecular tools and technologies must be accompanied by expert training. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2007, the critically endangered European eel (Anguilla anguilla) was listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, due to declines in abundance across its range and significant international demand. Illegal trade in live European eel and its products is still occurring to satisfy the high demand around the world. Law enforcement officers face the challenge of identifying both live and processed European eel in a timely fashion to detain shipments and prosecute smugglers. Here, we describe the development of a reliable, field‐based, fast, and cost‐effective real‐time polymerase chain reaction assay to detect European eels in trade. This novel assay was applied in a real law enforcement scenario, where positive results provided enough evidence to detain the shipment for more robust forensic analysis, leading to the first prosecution of eel smuggling in Hong Kong. Our approach could serve as a model for the development of other rapid and cost‐effective tools to detect illegal wildlife trade where visual identification fails to provide enough evidence for prosecution. It could also enhance monitoring and enforcement of laws intended to protect highly traded and threatened species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]