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

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.

Details

Title: Consumption of shark products: The interface of sustainability, trade (mis)labelling, human health and human rights
Authors/Creators: Md. R. Hasan
Jennifer Chaplin - Murdoch University, School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences
Peter Spencer - Murdoch University, Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability
M. Braccini - Murdoch University
Publication Details: Fish and Fisheries, Vol.24(5), pp.777-795
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Identifiers: 991005585964207891
Copyright: © 2023 The Authors.
Murdoch Affiliation: Centre for Terrestrial Ecosystem Science and Sustainability; School of Environmental and Conservation Sciences; Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems
Resource Type: Journal article

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#12 Responsible Consumption & Production

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.2 Marine Biology; 3.2.92 Fisheries Ecology
Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science