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Shark fin pollutants
Shark solo_1

Project Leader: Mahmood Shivji & Dr Veljko Dragojlovic

Background

Although the use of shark fins dates back to the Sung dynasty in 10th Century China, the growing economic prosperity of mainland China and Asian countries in general, has created an unsustainable surge in demand for shark fins, which in turn continues to provide a strong economic incentive for their continued over-fishing worldwide.

In the lab

While SOSF fully recognises the need for conservation minded management schemes, it also aware that they are only one tool in combating unsustainable fishing practices. As it is known that long-lived predatory fish are especially well suited to accumulating pollutants (such as heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants, or POPs), and as people continue to become more health conscious when choosing what to include in their diet, another potential avenue is to investigate the potential health effects of eating shark fins on humans.

SOSF is therefore now funding a 2 year research program into the frequency, load and distribution of selected hazardous pollutants in shark fins from a variety of commonly traded species.

Aims & objectives

The main aim is to see whether heavy metals and POPs have a tendency to bioaccumulate in shark fins. Though the results won’t be known for some time, if such pollutants were found to be at levels above recommended guidelines it would obviously be another potent piece of information in the battle to change unsustainable consumer practices.

Project Update: 2009

Specific project objectives for between April 2009 and March 2010 are:

  1. Continue to measure a suite of heavy metals, including Lead and Mercury (total and methyl mercury) and selected POPs in dried and fresh/frozen shark fins. The POPs analyzed will include the 12 principal organic pollutants (known in the business as "the Dirty Dozen"): Insecticides (Aldrin, Chlordane, DDT, Dieldrin, Endrin, Heptachlor, Mirex and Toxaphene), a fungicide (Hexachlorobenzene), PCBs, Dioxins and Furans.
  2. Based on preliminary findings from Year 1 studies, expand the survey to analysis of  i) more fins from additional shark species and ii) other shark products (fin soup and shark cartilage pills).
  3. Disseminate findings via scientific conference presentations as soon as scientifically robust data are available. Formal publication of the findings to follow. 
  4. Disseminate our research findings to the management, conservation, and scientific communities and general public, as appropriate.