Much of US shark meat comes from endangered species, study finds

"We purchased and DNA barcoded 29 shark meat products from grocery stores, seafood markets, and online vendors in the United States to determine their species identity. DNA analysis revealed meat from 11 different shark species, including the great hammerhead and scalloped hammerhead, both classified as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Despite their fragile status, these species were found in American markets for as little as $2.99 per lb."

"Astonishingly, 93% of the samples were either falsely labeled or so vaguely described that buyers had no way of knowing the species they were eating. Only one item carried an accurate, species-specific label. The study, now published in Frontiers in Marine Science, reported that 27 of the 29 tested samples were marketed only as shark or mako shark. Of the two products with species names, one turned out to be misidentified."

Most shark meat available to American shoppers is mislabeled and often originates from endangered species. DNA barcoding of 29 shark meat products from U.S. grocery stores, seafood markets, and online vendors identified meat from 11 shark species, including the critically endangered great hammerhead and scalloped hammerhead. Ninety-three percent of samples were falsely labeled or described so vaguely that species identity was unknowable. Only one product carried an accurate species-specific label, and one of two labeled items was misidentified. Endangered species appeared in markets for as little as $2.99 per pound, and ambiguous labeling prevents consumers from avoiding high-contaminant species.

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