{"id":4142,"date":"2014-09-14T04:08:07","date_gmt":"2014-09-14T04:08:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/?p=4142"},"modified":"2017-01-04T09:53:01","modified_gmt":"2017-01-04T09:53:01","slug":"shark-fin-dna-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/news\/shark-fin-dna-test\/","title":{"rendered":"World\u2019s First DNA Technology for Endangered Shark Species Identification – Local dried seafood stores selling shark fins of future endangered species"},"content":{"rendered":"

Effective on 14th<\/sup>\u00a0September 2014, five more endangered shark species will formally be included in\u00a0the Appendix II\u00a0of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species\u00a0(CITES), which means that the trade of those shark species will be further restricted. World Green Organisation (WGO)\u00a0is committed to protecting\u00a0these endangered shark\u00a0species,\u00a0and urges\u00a0the public to stop\u00a0consuming\u00a0shark fins.\u00a0 In order to investigate whether shark fins\u00a0for sale and trade in Hong Kong markets come from endangered shark populations, WGO worked with an independent laboratory,\u00a0Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Ltd. based in Hong Kong Science Park\u00a0and discovered that individual dried seafood stores are still selling shark fins\u00a0belonging to the species\u00a0to be included in\u00a0the\u00a0Appendices of\u00a0CITES.\u00a0 Thus, WGO and Vitargent request that the local shark fins industry, including the importers and suppliers, provide proof in the future to show that shark fins for sale and trade are not from endangered categories.<\/p>\n

Currently, three endangered shark species have been included in Appendix II of\u00a0CITES.\u00a0 However, the appearance of shark fins processed from the five newly added endangered shark species are of little difference compared to the non-restricted shark species and they are hard to distinguish. \u00a0In order to tackle this problem, this July, WGO commissioned Vitargent to buy nine dried shark fin samples based on\u00a0random sampling\u00a0from\u00a0different\u00a0dried seafood stores located\u00a0in\u00a0Sheung Wan, with the aim of adopting a DNA test to identify whether those shark fins are from endangered species or not.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/div>
<\/div><\/p>\n

That testing result was rather alarming.\u00a0 According to Vitargent\u2019s DNA test on three shark fin samples, one of the samples\u00a0belonged to the future restricted species, the smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena<\/em>).\u00a0 This species,\u00a0together with another four species, will be\u00a0included\u00a0in\u00a0Appendix II of\u00a0CITES on 14th<\/sup>\u00a0September 2014. \u00a0(For details\u00a0of the five species, please\u00a0refer to\u00a0Remark 1.)\u00a0 In Hong Kong, this ordinance will\u00a0come into effect on\u00a028th<\/sup>\u00a0November 2014, by the time the Endangered Species of Animals and Plants (the ordinance), Cap. 586 will be enforced.\u00a0 Thus, personnel who engage in the related trade are closely monitored; they need to be under the scrutiny of the permit\/ license system. \u00a0In other words, selling or participating in shark fins trading without a permit\/license is illegal and in violation of Appendix II of CITES.\u00a0 Convicted offenders\u00a0are liable to a maximum fine\u00a0of\u00a0$500,000 and\u00a0to imprisonment\u00a0for one year[1]<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jimmy Tao, Managing Director of Vitargent, was surprised by these findings.<\/p>\n

This was only a random sampling, however, one out of three samples was found to belong to the future\u00a0restricted species. \u00a0With the five restricted species harvested for their shark fins, their appearance would not have big difference compared to other non-restricted species. \u00a0Even though those engaged in the shark fins trade may not have the intention to sell those endangered shark fins, they might violate the ordinance without the needed knowledge.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

World\u2019s First DNA Technology for Endangered Shark Species\u00a0Identification<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jimmy Tao pointed out that the\u00a0identification of the endangered shark species can be done by their\u00a0established DNA technology.\u00a0 Vitargent’s research team had\u00a0started research on this since 2012. \u00a0Based on\u00a0international\u00a0published journals\u00a0and\u00a0their sophisticated laboratory test and the data generated, his professional research team validated\u00a0two\u00a0markers for specific\u00a0shark species, which is proved to be reliable in identifying the eight endangered shark species under Appendix II of CITES. \u00a0Vitargent\u2019s laboratory will adopt their unique DNA extraction methods to extract sharks\u2019 DNA\u00a0from the samples.\u00a0 A\u00a0Polymerase Chain Reaction technology\u00a0will then be used\u00a0to multiply the DNA\u00a0markers so as to\u00a0identify the\u00a0specific\u00a0shark species.\u00a0 At this stage, the\u00a0laboratory is able to validate ten\u00a0specific\u00a0shark species and eight of them are under the category of Appendix II of\u00a0CITES.<\/p>\n

Dr. William Yu, CEO of WGO, reiterated the importance of shark protection. \u00a0He suggested these issues can be addressed in two folds. \u00a0The consumption of shark fins can be stopped via the demand side management through public education.\u00a0 For supply side management, on the one hand, the Hong Kong government should conduct regular inspection on shark fins trade and sale in order to protect the endangered species. \u00a0On the other hand, the shark fins industry, which includes the importers and suppliers, should be self-regulated by providing proof when trading or selling the shark fins.\u00a0 Dr. Yu further said that WGO would join hands with Vitargent to contact the Secretariat of\u00a0CITES and propose a strategy for the protection of endangered shark species.<\/p>\n

Photo link: Vitargent\u2019s DNA test on endangered shark species
\n<\/strong>https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/sh\/dzdr6hy65d7oqyo\/AADaYZsB1p_zj1EmkqSivExca?dl=0<\/a><\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Press Conference
\n<\/strong>https:\/\/www.dropbox.com\/sh\/lam9midqefrkqzj\/AAD25BjFK3dYRTAga8rHNykma?dl=0<\/a><\/p>\n

Remark 1:
\n<\/strong>Endangered shark\u00a0species\u00a0to be included\u00a0on 14th<\/sup>\u00a0September 2014, in Appendix II of\u00a0CITES<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus<\/em>)<\/li>\n
  2. Scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini<\/em>)<\/li>\n
  3. Great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran<\/em>)<\/li>\n
  4. Smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena<\/em>)<\/li>\n
  5. Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus<\/em>)<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Note: 3 endangered shark species are currently included in Appendix II of\u00a0CITES. \u00a0With the newly added 5 species,\u00a0there will be 8 endangered shark species\u00a0in total.<\/p>\n

    Remark 2:<\/strong>
    \nWorld Green Organisation (WGO)<\/strong><\/p>\n

    WGO is an independent non-governmental organisation concerned with environmental conservation and environmentally related livelihood and economic affairs. \u00a0It provides a holistic approach to a\u00a0fully integrated three-pronged solution that combines social, environmental and economic aspects for an\u00a0environmental revolution.<\/b><\/p>\n

    Vitargent (International) Biotechnology Ltd.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    VITARGENT\u00a0is a world leading biochemical testing services provider for international testing organizations such as SGS, Fugro (MateriaLab), CMA, BGI, world\u2019s leading cosmetic, food and beverage conglomerates, various inspection & quarantine bureaus and government divisions in Europe, Hong Kong and Mainland China. \u00a0With the firm support of these groups, the technology\/protocol is being developed as regional and international standards. \u00a0Vitargent is selected as one of six most successful high-tech companies in the last decade by HK government.<\/p>\n

    Our vision is to combine our scientific expertise with social responsibility to improve the consumer product safety and protect our environment; to help our clients to differentiate their safer and better products from the competitors with innovative science, affordable price and great solution.
    \n    <\/a><\/p>\n

    \n

    [1]CITES has been implemented in Hong Kong. \u00a0Convicted offenders of Appendix I\u00a0of CITES\u00a0are liable to a maximum fine\u00a0of\u00a0$5,000,000 and\u00a0to imprisonment\u00a0for\u00a0two years.<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Media Enquiry:
    \n<\/strong>

    \nJanice Lee
    \nCommunications Manager
    \nWorld Green Organisation
    \nTel:\u00a02991 9118
    \nEmail:     janicelee@thewgo.org
    \n<\/a><\/div>
    Jimmy Tao
    \nManaging Director
    \nVitargent (International) Biotechnology Ltd.
    \nTel: 2393 2343
    \nEmail:     jimmytao@vitargent.com<\/a><\/div>
    <\/div><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Effective on 14th\u00a0September 2014, five more endangered shark species will formally be included in\u00a0the Appendix II\u00a0of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species\u00a0(CITES), which means that the trade of those shark species will be further restricted. World Green Organisation (WGO)\u00a0is committed to protecting\u00a0these endangered shark\u00a0species,\u00a0and urges\u00a0the public to stop\u00a0consuming\u00a0shark …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4158,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4142"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4142"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4142\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4159,"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4142\/revisions\/4159"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4158"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4142"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4142"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thewgo.org\/site-eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4142"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}