10% of shark meat sold in Australian fish shops are endangered species
A new study from Macquarie University shows that 10% of shark meat sold in Australian fish shops and markets are in fact, endangered species.
The study used DNA testing to sample 91 fillets of shark and found 57 (80%) were mislabelled. Nine were from three endangered species in Australian waters, and 43 of the 47 samples labelled flake (91%) were the endangered scalloped hammerhead, greeneye purdog, and school shark.
The study also found that mislabelling was much higher in takeaway shops (68%) than in fish markets (47%).
Clinton is joined by ACMS Shark Expert, Dr Leonardo Guida, who says, “Australians would be appalled to know that our governments are allowing endangered species to be caught and sold for Aussies to eat, and that we’re not buying what’s written on the label.”
“This level of mislabelling highlights not only failures in Australia’s labelling laws, but failures in fishing rules, that continue to permit the harvest of endangered species.”
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