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The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies sea sharks like these in the Caribbean as near threatened
Photo: Norbert Probst / imagebroker / IMAGO
Pet owners may unknowingly feed their dogs and cats food containing endangered sharks.
This is the conclusion of a study by researchers from Singapore, which was published in the journal "Frontiers in Marine Science".
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The blue shark is probably the most widespread species of all cartilaginous fish.
But stocks are overfished.
Photo: Mark Conlin / VWPics / UIG / IMAGO
For the work, the scientists examined 144 samples from 45 animal feed products from 16 different brands.
The products were purchased in Singapore.
The DNA was sequenced and determined.
The result showed that around a third of the samples contained genetic material from sharks.
Most commonly, the research team identified species such as the blue shark, silky shark and whitetip reef shark.
The silky shark and whitetip reef shark are listed as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
Although the blue shark is not officially classified as threatened, scientific research has shown that its population is overfished.
Researchers are calling for the catch to be regulated.
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The whitetip reef shark is one of the few shark species that can remain motionless on the ocean floor.
At night the fish hunt in groups.
Photo: David Fleetham / StockTrek Images / IMAGO
The authors of the study also found the DNA of the sicklefin weasel shark, the Caribbean sharpnose shark and the sand tiger shark in pet food.
While the first two species are considered endangered, the sand tiger shark is actually an endangered species.
It is unclear how large the share of sharks in animal feed is.
DNA sequencing can be used to determine which species are generally included.
The study does not provide any information about the actual amount that the products contain.
Three quarters of all shark species are threatened
According to the study, the shark ingredient was not labeled on the pet food packaging: Shark was not expressly listed in any of the products, and some only had general terms such as "sea fish" or "white fish" on the label.
Others contained no reference to fish at all.
This misleading labeling prevents consumers from making informed and environmentally conscious choices.
As a result, pet owners and animal lovers may unknowingly be contributing to the overfishing of endangered sharks, the two scientists write.
Shark stocks are overfished worldwide.
In the past 50 years, populations have declined by more than 70 percent.
This decline is largely due to increased fishing.
Three quarters of all shark species in the world's oceans are considered threatened.
Sharks are so-called apex predators, predators at the top of the ocean food chain.
Their existence is vital to the ecological balance of the oceans.
According to the authors, the use of shark products in everyday items such as pet food contributes to the population decline.
A decisive factor, however, is the sale of shark fins.
EU countries also sell shark fins
It's conceivable, the study's authors write, that the shark used in the animal feed products could come from shark carcasses that are processed after fishermen have removed their valuable fins.
more on the subject
Overfishing: One third of all sharks and rays are threatened with extinction
There is a large market for shark fins in parts of Asia, particularly Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan.
However, European countries are also making a significant contribution to the decline in stocks: According to a new analysis by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, a global animal welfare organization, European countries are selling so many shark fins to Asia that they control almost half of the trade.
Above all, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, France and Italy have an important share in supplying this legal market.
Spain delivered around 51,800 tons of shark fins between 2003 and 2020.
The largest supplier of shark fins is China.
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