Shark consumption in India: An exploratory study on trends and awareness

The domestic consumption of sharks in maritime states of India and consumer perception were examined to assess the utility of such studies in conservation planning. The study surveyed 309 respondents in person, across the coastal states of India during 2018. The respondents covered were fish consumers and had highest monthly food expenditure on fish. The study found out that low consumption of sharks among respondents, though expenditure on fish was relatively high. Fifty-nine percent of the consumers felt that their consumption of sharks had decreased and the main reason attributed was irregular/poor supply of sharks. The study revealed that consumer awareness on shark conservation was poor with 63.2% of the respondents unaware that some shark species are protected in India or require protection. Consumer fidelity towards sharks was found to be low indicating that even if additional shark species were protected, they would be replaced by other fish in the consumer’s diet. Focused efforts are essential to sensitise consumers about the vulnerability of sharks and their conservation needs. Strategies could include integrating marine conservation topics into school curricula, conducting awareness campaigns on shark conservation at retail markets and promoting consumption of sharks sourced from sustainable stocks. Additionally, the study recommends implementing minimum legal size (MLS) regulation for ensuring sustainable shark stocks in Indian waters. Keywords: Awareness, Consumer survey, Elasmobranchs, Perception, Sustainability