A recent study led by Florida International University (FIU) marine biologist Diego Cardeñosa and Demian Chapman of the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium finds that illegal trade in shark fins continues globally, despite more than a decade of international regulations. The research, published in Science Advances, focused on species protected under the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
The study analyzed nearly 20,000 shark fin samples collected from Hong Kong markets between 2014 and 2021. Results showed that fins from four out of five CITES-regulated shark species are still common in these markets. This is notable given that since trade regulations took effect in 2014, little to no legal trade has been reported.
“There’s a huge gap between what’s on paper and what’s happening in the real world,” said Cardeñosa, who is also a researcher at FIU’s Global Forensic and Justice Center and Institute of Environment. “DNA evidence clearly shows these protected species are still entering the global market at alarming rates. There are 70 times more fins from oceanic whitetips and 10 times as many hammerhead fins than would be expected based on legal and certified reporting.”
In 2013, CITES members imposed regulations requiring all trade in certain threatened sharks—three hammerhead species (scalloped, smooth, great), porbeagle, and oceanic whitetip—to be reported and certified as not endangering their survival.
“Since the 2014 listings of these species on CITES, very little trade has been reported and certified, which makes a great deal of sense because of how poorly they are doing in the wild,” Chapman said. “Given these numbers, we would expect to find very few of their fins in Hong Kong.”
However, the DNA analyses revealed that scalloped, smooth and great hammerheads as well as oceanic whitetip sharks remain prevalent year after year.
“Our findings show that while global trade regulations are a powerful tool, their effectiveness depends on countries actually enforcing them,” Chapman added. “We’re seeing clear evidence of widespread noncompliance. Illegal trade is still happening on a massive scale.”
Despite being listed under CITES Appendix II—which permits international trade only if it is legal, traceable and sustainable—81% of shark-fin-exporting countries have never reported any legal trade involving these species.
Hammerhead and oceanic whitetip sharks are classified as either critically endangered or vulnerable by the IUCN Red List. Their ongoing exploitation puts them at further risk of collapse. The genetic tracking performed by the research team indicates illegal activity spans continents with major fishing nations implicated; Spain, Taiwan, United Arab Emirates, Philippines, Ghana and Brazil were specifically identified as likely involved at high levels.
“We are reaching a major tipping point where if the fishing and trade of these species is not meaningfully reduced, then these sharks will disappear,” said Cardeñosa. “This would be a huge loss of top predators in our oceans, which could unleash serious and unpredictable ecosystem changes that negatively affect us.”
The authors call for increased engagement with CITES compliance mechanisms along with stronger enforcement measures such as expanded genetic monitoring throughout supply chains.
“Shedding light on this problem is a major step toward solving it,” Chapman stated. “CITES has internal compliance mechanisms to deal with illegal trade and in early December they will also decide whether to ban global trade in one of these species, the oceanic whitetip. We are at the point where these more stringent actions are needed.”
