Overview

• UNC scientists DNA-barcoded 30 shark products bought in 2021–2022 from stores and online in Washington, D.C., North Carolina, Florida and Georgia, identifying 29 to species level.
• Thirty-one percent of samples came from threatened species, including great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, tope and shortfin mako.
• Ninety-three percent of products were labeled only as “shark” or “mako,” with just one correct species label and one product sold as blacktip that proved to be shortfin mako.
• Several species detected are known to contain high levels of mercury, methylmercury and arsenic, raising consumer-health concerns, particularly for children and pregnant people.
• Authors recommend mandatory species-level labeling and traceable sourcing, noting enforcement challenges tied to CITES and Endangered Species Act rules once sharks are processed into fillets.