Certain Pet Foods Contain DNA from Endangered Shark Species, Alarming Report Reveals

According to a new research, unwitting owners feed endangered sharks to their cats and dogs. Scientists discovered that numerous products contained endangered species but specified nonspecific components like "ocean fish," implying that most customers are unaware.

Frontiers in Marine Science reported the research findings. According to the study's authors, Ben Wainwright and Ian French of Yale-NUS College in Singapore, most pet owners are likely to be nature enthusiasts. They believe most would be disturbed to learn that they unintentionally contribute to shark overfishing.

Population Decrease

Shark populations worldwide have declined by more than 70% due to overfishing in the last 50 years. Sharks are important apex predators in the ocean food chain, and their extinction has had negative consequences for seagrass meadows and coral reefs.

The sale of shark fins has received a lot of attention. However, the usage of shark components in daily things like pet food and cosmetics is a quiet contribution, according to the authors.

Analyzing Various Pet Foods

Scientists in Singapore analyzed 45 pet food varieties from 16 companies using DNA barcoding. In the ingredients list, most goods utilized general phrases like "fish," "ocean fish," "white bait," or "white fish" to describe their contents, with others specifically stating tuna or salmon. Others made no mention of fish at all.

Shark DNA was found in 45 of the 144 samples sequenced, or nearly a third. Blue, silky, and whitetip reef sharks were the most commonly recognized species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies the silky and whitetip reef sharks as "vulnerable."

DNA from the sicklefin weasel, Caribbean sharpnose, and sand tiger, all endangered species, was also discovered in products.

According to the authors, the flesh might be collected from shark corpses that would otherwise be thrown after the prized fins are removed, or it could signify a rising shark meat trade. They want more precise ingredient labels, so consumers know exactly what they're giving their dogs and where it originated from.

Discovering Shark DNA

Dr. Andrew Griffiths, an ecologist at the University of Exeter, said the current discovery came after his team and others discovered shark DNA in human food products, including selling spiny dogfish and hammerhead shark meat in fish and chip shops.

He said that the lack of particular labeling standards for pet meals meant that many vulnerable species might be lawfully included. He stated, "There aren't any explicit restrictions prohibiting that." "You may be catching just about any fish unintentionally."

Trade Value

Apart from the lucrative shark fin trade, shark flesh is often low in value, according to Griffiths, and might be a cheap source of protein. "A lot of folks aren't interested in eating it," he explained. "As a result, you won't be able to sell it through other supply chains." People are surprised that these things may be on their pet's plate."