New product adds pressure on Pacific spadenose shark Scoliodon macrorhynchos (Carcharhinidae)

The cartilaginous fishes (sharks, rays, and chimaeras) are one of the oldest groups of lower vertebrates, which in recent decades have been subjected to severe negative human impacts (overfishing, habitat destruction, pollution, etc.). Many shark species are caught in virtually unregulated and uncontrolled fisheries and processed into food and other products. The Pacific spadenose shark Scoliodon macrorhynchos is subject to intensive fishing in most of species’ range. At the same time, its abundance in Chinese waters is declining, while stocks around island of Taiwan (Chinese Taipei) and off the coast of Sarawak (Borneo, Malaysia) show signs of overfishing. This species, along with other members of the Carcharhinidae family, is listed in Appendix II of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and NT (Near Threatened) on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List of Threatened Species. Recently, a new pet product, dried eviscerated specimens of S. macrorhynchos, supplied from China, has appeared in some Russian online shops. An examination of the dried sharks purchased from the online shop revealed that they were all immature specimens, exacerbating the already threatened state of the species' populations. Eliminating further threats to S. macrorhynchos will require a ban on fishing for undersized specimens, improvement of the national fisheries management, monitoring of population status, and increased control of international trade by CITES.