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. 2023 Dec;50(12):9985-9992.
doi: 10.1007/s11033-023-08876-6. Epub 2023 Oct 29.

Endangered shark species traded as "cação" in São Paulo during the COVID-19 lockdown: DNA-barcoding a snapshot of products

Veronica Zuccolo  1 , Fernanda Moreira Rego  2 , Emily Hughes  3 , Andrew M Griffiths  3
Affiliations

Endangered shark species traded as "cação" in São Paulo during the COVID-19 lockdown: DNA-barcoding a snapshot of products

Veronica Zuccolo et al. Mol Biol Rep. 2023 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Elasmobranch populations are declining, predominantly driven by overfishing, and over a third of global sharks, rays, and chimeras are estimated to be threatened with extinction. In terms of trade, Brazil is ranked the eleventh-largest shark producer and the top importer of shark meat in the world. Research has shown that elasmobranchs are sold in Brazil under the name "cação" (a generic designation for cartilaginous fish) to overcome consumer resistance.

Methodology and results: This study used DNA barcoding to investigate the sale of sharks in the State of São Paulo during the COVID-19 lockdown. A total of 35 samples of "cação" were analysed, revealing six different shark species on sale, including Carcharhinus falciformis, Carcharhinus signatus, Carcharias taurus, Isurus oxyrinchus, and Isurus paucus, that are threatened with extinction according to the IUCN red list. This study demonstrates that vulnerable elasmobranchs are being commercialised under the label "cação" in the São Paulo State and Brazil.

Conclusions: Comparison of shark products traded before and during the COVID-19 pandemic showed no significant difference, suggesting lockdown did not affect patterns of species commercialisation. Effective fisheries and sale monitoring, correct product labelling legislation and increased consumer awareness that "cação" is shark are needed for appropriate conservation and management of shark populations in Brazil.

Keywords: DNA barcoding; Endangered species; Fishing monitoring; Mislabelling; Shark.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map illustrating sample locations. Brazil shown in grey, and the State of São Paulo in orange. The black circle corresponds to the city of São Paulo, whilst the blue ovals indicates the coastal areas of Santos and Bertioga
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Bar chart of species identified (n = 35)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Bar chart showing the conservation classification of species identified in products at time of sampling (following the global IUCN Red List status in 2020 [35], and ICMBio, 2018 [7])
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Bar chart of shark species commercialisation pre-pandemic and during Covid-19 lockdown
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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