Shark governance requires species identity | Science

More than a decade after shark mislabeling was first highlighted in Brazil (1), generic commercial names such as caçao (2–4), galeos (5), rock salmon and huss (6), flake (7), palombo (8), tollo, and cazón (9) continue to obscure shark species identity worldwide. DNA-based surveys repeatedly reveal that products sold under these names comprise multiple shark species, including threatened and internationally regulated taxa (2–12). Although these commercial names differ among countries, they produce the same outcome: species identity is progressively lost as shark products move from capture to consumption, precisely where fisheries management, wildlife trade regulation, sustainability claims, and informed consumer choice depend on it.