Oral Presentation Australian Society for Fish Biology Conference 2024

Molecular tools for enhanced traceability in the shark liver oil trade (108949)

Madeline Green 1
  1. UTAS, Hobart, TAS, Australia

International liver oil trade is a major driver of targeted fisheries and retention of bycatch for deepwater sharks. Sharks are targeted for the squalene content in their liver oil, which is used for cosmetic and human health applications. The unique properties of shark liver oil make it a sought-after commodity, contributing to targeted fisheries and incentivising fishers to retain bycatch. However, the trade's sustainability is questionable due to a lack of management and the precarious status of many shark species. Liver oil fisheries are understudied and overshadowed by more visible global trades of other shark and ray products but are presumed to not be sustainable. The global liver oil trade is also difficult to measure because of its complexity with the mixed end-product making it hard to identify and quantify species. This presentation will discuss efforts currently underway to extract DNA from liver oil products to identify shark species within. Various methodologies are being explored with the aim to establish a robust molecular monitoring tool for improved traceability and management of liver oil fisheries globally.