Shark Fin Species Identification

Identification of Shark Species From the Hong Kong Shark Fin Market

Shark fins in a Hong Kong store are sorted into different categories based on size and value

 

Hong Kong is the epicenter of the world's shark fin market with the largest portion of all harvested shark fins being transported there. Traders sort and classify shark fins under different market categories based on appearance and value however, the relationship between market category and shark species has never been explored. Recent experiments have allowed the identification of shark species using molecular genetics and shark fin trade records. The results of these experiments have the potential to accurately pinpoint the most heavily harvested sharks and allow for better future management and conservation of these threatened species. 

I have compiled the results from the experiment and included the market category, hypothesized shark species under that category, certainty of identification, and compared these species to the current conservation status listed by the IUCN. All the sharks traded are classified as near threatened (NT), vulnerable (VU), or endangered (EN). This suggests that all the sharks being harvested for fins are not done sustainably and could face the threat of extinction if nothing is being done.


IUCN Status Definitions: 

NEAR THREATENED (NT)
A taxon is Near Threatened when it has been evaluated against the criteria but does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered or Vulnerable now, but is close to qualifying for or is likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future.

VULNERABLE (VU)
A taxon is Vulnerable when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Vulnerable (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. 

ENDANGERED (EN)
A taxon is Endangered when the best available evidence indicates that it meets any of the criteria A to E for Endangered (see Section V), and it is therefore considered to be facing a very high risk of extinction in the wild.

Market category	Hypothesized shark species	Taxonomic Certainty	Global IUCN Red List status
Ya jian 牙揀	Blue (Prionace glauca)	95%-Distinct, low probability of mixing with other species	Near threatened
Qing lian 青連	Shortfin mako (Isurus oxyrinchus)	80%-Occasional mixing with longfin mako	Vulnerable
Wu yang 五羊	Silky (Carcharhinus falciformis)	70%-Mixing with silvertip and Galapagos shark fins	Near threatened
Hai hu 海虎	Dusky (C. obscurus)	90%-visually similar to bai qing and ruan sha but high value causes traders to sort accurately	Vulnerable
Bai qing 白青	Sandbar (C. plumbeus)	90%-visually similar to hai hu and ruan sha but high value causes traders to sort accurately	Vulnerable
Ruan sha 軟沙	Tiger (G. cuvier)	90%-visually similar to hai hu and bai qing but high value causes traders to sort accurately	Near threatened
Chun chi 春翅	Smooth and scalloped hammerheads	60%-could contain any of all 7 species of hammerheads	Endangered or vulnerable
Gu pian 骨片	Great hammerhead (S. mokarran)	85%-high value means accurate sorting but slight mix with other light hammerheads	Endangered
Wu gu 勿骨	Thresher (Alopias spp., 3 species)	90% - infrequent mixing with longfin mako (I. paucus)	Near threatened and vulnerable
Sha qing 沙青	Bull (C. leucas)	80%-infrequent mixing with another unknown shark	Near threatened
Liu qiu 流球	Oceanic whitetip (C. longimanus)	95%-visually distinct; low probability of mixing with other species	Vulnerable

(Original Figure)

Where are the fins being harvested? 

Sources:
http://www.nova.edu/ocean/ghri/forms/clarke_cb05.pdf
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com.offcampus.lib.washington.edu/doi/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2011.03089.x/pdf
Cheung, Gordon and Chang, Chak Yan. "Cultural identities of Chinese business: networks of the shark-fin business in Hong Kong." Asia Pacific Business Review, Jul2011, Vol. 17 Issue 3, p343-359.