Overview

• The UNC team tested 29 shark products bought from grocery stores, seafood markets, and online vendors in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Florida, and Georgia using DNA barcoding.
• Thirty-one percent of samples came from four endangered or critically endangered species: great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, tope, and shortfin mako.
• Labeling proved unreliable, with 93% of items sold under vague terms like “shark,” and one product labeled as blacktip identified as endangered shortfin mako.
• Several species detected are known to contain high levels of mercury, methylmercury, and arsenic, posing particular risks to pregnant people and children.
• Trade rules under CITES and U.S. law vary by species and harvest location, and researchers say species-level labeling and traceable sourcing are needed to aid enforcement and protect consumers.