In Troubled Waters: Applying DNA Barcoding to Monitor Singapore's Shark Fin Trade
ABSTRACT The global fin trade poses a significant threat to shark populations; many species of shark are at risk of extinction due to overfishing and unsustainable practices. This study examines the fin trade in Singapore, a globally significant fin trading hub, market and transit point. Using DNA b...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71607 |
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| author | Anya Ramanan Kimberly H. Quek Nicole Chung Mae Sze Nicole Isabel Oo Xinyen David Kim Hyun Soo Changjun Sung Vivien Dimitrov Rebekah P. Nix Ming Han Mark Sng Pei Xuan Jody Lim Elisa X. Y. Lim Benjamin J. Wainwright |
| author_facet | Anya Ramanan Kimberly H. Quek Nicole Chung Mae Sze Nicole Isabel Oo Xinyen David Kim Hyun Soo Changjun Sung Vivien Dimitrov Rebekah P. Nix Ming Han Mark Sng Pei Xuan Jody Lim Elisa X. Y. Lim Benjamin J. Wainwright |
| author_sort | Anya Ramanan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT The global fin trade poses a significant threat to shark populations; many species of shark are at risk of extinction due to overfishing and unsustainable practices. This study examines the fin trade in Singapore, a globally significant fin trading hub, market and transit point. Using DNA barcoding techniques, we attempted to determine the species of origin for 300 processed fins that could not be identified by visual techniques. Fins were collected from a variety of outlets across Singapore. We identified 12 species, eight of which were identified as threatened on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (critically threatened n = 2, endangered n = 4 & vulnerable n = 2). Of all the samples we identified to the species or genus level, 13 (12 species and 1 entire genus) are listed on CITES Appendix II. This listing means that international trade has to be controlled to prevent further population declines and utilisation incompatible with their survival. Ninety‐eight percent of all the identifications made in this work belonged to species that are listed on CITES Appendix II. Demonstrating the importance of regular and repeated monitoring, we identified the blackchin guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus); this is the first occurrence of fins from this species within Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian region. This is a CITES Appendix II listed species and one that has been designated as critically endangered by the IUCN. Without repeated monitoring, the presence of this species in Singpaore would likely have gone undetected. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e7a5b75e517c430e8115426907abd7e1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj-art-e7a5b75e517c430e8115426907abd7e12025-08-20T03:33:26ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-06-01156n/an/a10.1002/ece3.71607In Troubled Waters: Applying DNA Barcoding to Monitor Singapore's Shark Fin TradeAnya Ramanan0Kimberly H. Quek1Nicole Chung Mae Sze2Nicole Isabel Oo Xinyen3David Kim Hyun Soo4Changjun Sung5Vivien Dimitrov6Rebekah P. Nix7Ming Han Mark Sng8Pei Xuan Jody Lim9Elisa X. Y. Lim10Benjamin J. Wainwright11Yale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeYale‐NUS College National University of Singapore Singapore SingaporeABSTRACT The global fin trade poses a significant threat to shark populations; many species of shark are at risk of extinction due to overfishing and unsustainable practices. This study examines the fin trade in Singapore, a globally significant fin trading hub, market and transit point. Using DNA barcoding techniques, we attempted to determine the species of origin for 300 processed fins that could not be identified by visual techniques. Fins were collected from a variety of outlets across Singapore. We identified 12 species, eight of which were identified as threatened on the IUCN Red List of threatened species (critically threatened n = 2, endangered n = 4 & vulnerable n = 2). Of all the samples we identified to the species or genus level, 13 (12 species and 1 entire genus) are listed on CITES Appendix II. This listing means that international trade has to be controlled to prevent further population declines and utilisation incompatible with their survival. Ninety‐eight percent of all the identifications made in this work belonged to species that are listed on CITES Appendix II. Demonstrating the importance of regular and repeated monitoring, we identified the blackchin guitarfish (Glaucostegus cemiculus); this is the first occurrence of fins from this species within Singapore and the wider Southeast Asian region. This is a CITES Appendix II listed species and one that has been designated as critically endangered by the IUCN. Without repeated monitoring, the presence of this species in Singpaore would likely have gone undetected.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71607CITESDNA barcodingIUCNshark finsharkswildlife trade |
| spellingShingle | Anya Ramanan Kimberly H. Quek Nicole Chung Mae Sze Nicole Isabel Oo Xinyen David Kim Hyun Soo Changjun Sung Vivien Dimitrov Rebekah P. Nix Ming Han Mark Sng Pei Xuan Jody Lim Elisa X. Y. Lim Benjamin J. Wainwright In Troubled Waters: Applying DNA Barcoding to Monitor Singapore's Shark Fin Trade Ecology and Evolution CITES DNA barcoding IUCN shark fin sharks wildlife trade |
| title | In Troubled Waters: Applying DNA Barcoding to Monitor Singapore's Shark Fin Trade |
| title_full | In Troubled Waters: Applying DNA Barcoding to Monitor Singapore's Shark Fin Trade |
| title_fullStr | In Troubled Waters: Applying DNA Barcoding to Monitor Singapore's Shark Fin Trade |
| title_full_unstemmed | In Troubled Waters: Applying DNA Barcoding to Monitor Singapore's Shark Fin Trade |
| title_short | In Troubled Waters: Applying DNA Barcoding to Monitor Singapore's Shark Fin Trade |
| title_sort | in troubled waters applying dna barcoding to monitor singapore s shark fin trade |
| topic | CITES DNA barcoding IUCN shark fin sharks wildlife trade |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.71607 |
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