Ongoing trade of fins from critically endangered rays (wedgefish and giant guitarfish) despite international regulations and a novel PCR test to detect rays among ‘shark’ fins
Article
Chapman, DD, Cardeñosa, D, Shea, KH et al. (2025). Ongoing trade of fins from critically endangered rays (wedgefish and giant guitarfish) despite international regulations and a novel PCR test to detect rays among ‘shark’ fins
. CONSERVATION GENETICS, 26(5), 971-981. 10.1007/s10592-025-01716-z
Chapman, DD, Cardeñosa, D, Shea, KH et al. (2025). Ongoing trade of fins from critically endangered rays (wedgefish and giant guitarfish) despite international regulations and a novel PCR test to detect rays among ‘shark’ fins
. CONSERVATION GENETICS, 26(5), 971-981. 10.1007/s10592-025-01716-z
Wedgefish (family Rhinidae) and giant guitarfish (Glaucostegidae) are among the most imperiled vertebrate taxa. Given their prevalence in international trade, both of these ray families were listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) in 2019. After this, exports of any derivative products needed to be certified as legal, traceable, and sustainable by the exporting party from 2020 onwards. Here, we present an assessment of the immediate impact of this listing on international trade of the valuable fins of these rays, combining CITES trade records (2020–2021) and an independent DNA survey of one of the world’s largest fin markets (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China) from 2014 to 2021. Legal trade of these rays was reported to CITES by some nations, but this alone raises sustainability concerns given their critical status. At least ten species of wedgefish and giant guitarfish were detected in Hong Kong across 2.5–10.0% of sampling events, with a lack of change over time suggesting little immediate impact of CITES listings. Scarce reporting from most range nations further suggests illegal trade is occurring. A ray-diagnostic real time PCR test was developed to detect and combat this illegal trade. We recommend that nations importing these species (e.g., Hong Kong, China, Singapore) inspect fin shipments originating from range nations that land these species and export unidentified ‘shark’ fins. High export value of derivative products likely promotes retention rather than live release, so effective regulation of international trade may be pivotal to avoid wedgefish and giant guitarfish extinctions.
