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GENETIC IDENTIFICATION OF THREATENED HAMMERHEAD SHARKS ILLEGALLY SOLD AT ARTISNAL FISH MARKETS IN ECUADOR

Abstract:

Threatened sharks are caught in large numbers by artisanal and commercial fishers as a result of by-catch and when they are targeted for their fins and meat. Current methods for species identification rely on visual examination of whole caught sharks or molecular genetic techniques by trained personnel. We have developed a portable microfluidic system which allows identification of three CITES-listed hammerheads sharks using Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP). The system produces a simple “yes/no” result via a colour change from pink to yellow and can be used by non-scientifically trained personnel in areas with high frequencies of mislabelling.