The work presented here summarizes published research from Indonesia, also linked to an FAO summary, plus studies from India, Indonesia and Peru. In collaboration with various country programmes and local research groups, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) examined shark and ray value chains. The goal was to provide valuable information for fisheries and environmental agencies, shedding light on the role of non-fin commodities derived from sharks and rays in fisheries and trade. To effectively conserve shark and ray resources, we must adopt a more holistic understanding of their fisheries and markets. Historically, the focus has primarily centred on regulating the export of shark fins, often overlooking traditional and emerging fishing practices (and markets) related to other elasmobranch products (such as meat, skin, cartilage, liver oil, and gill plates). Due to limited examination of non-fin commodities, we lack clarity on their sources, the extent of exploitation , and their significance as drivers of elasmobranch utilization. This report aims to shift attention towards non-fin commodities in shark and ray management. By doing so, we hope to expand the range of potential interventions that can be employed to achieve sustainable elasmobranch fisheries – a critical source of food security, nutrition, and livelihoods for coastal communities worldwide.

The work presented here summarizes published research from Mexico, also linked to an FAO summary, plus studies from India, Indonesia and Peru. In collaboration with various country programmes and local research groups, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) examined shark and ray value chains. The goal was to provide valuable information for fisheries and environmental agencies, shedding light on the role of non-fin commodities derived from sharks and rays in fisheries and trade. To effectively conserve shark and ray resources, we must adopt a more holistic understanding of their fisheries and markets. Historically, the focus has primarily centred on regulating the export of shark fins, often overlooking traditional and emerging fishing practices (and markets) related to other elasmobranch products (such as meat, skin, cartilage, liver oil, and gill plates). Due to limited examination of non-fin commodities, we lack clarity on their sources, the extent of exploitation, and their significance as drivers of elasmobranch utilization. The report aims to shift attention towards non-fin commodities in shark and ray management. By doing so, we hope to expand the range of potential interventions that can be employed to achieve sustainable elasmobranch fisheries – a critical source of food security, nutrition, and livelihoods for coastal communities worldwide.

The study undertaken for this report analysed the value chains of shark and ray non-fin commodities in Peru to determine trade, flow and context in terms of their economic, sociocultural and environmental characteristics and the conclusions of this diagnosis relate to the sustainable use and management of aquatic resources. Preliminary activities involved gathering and reviewing available background information to provide a basis for identifying and selecting elasmobranch commodity value chains and supply chain networks where surveys could potentially measure change in the relationships between aquatic resources, value chain actors and consumers. Surveys were subsequently designed to diagnose specific issues and, where possible, to assess knowledge gaps as a measure to reveal unknown and data-deficient value chain scenarios. The subsequent survey deployment stage captured both qualitative and quantitative data, which was then analysed in conjunction with the preliminary background information gathered to indicate trends, stakeholder relationships, and value chain diagnosis enabled issues at key points across the elasmobranch value chains to be identified. Results were categorized relating to specific commodity domains, stakeholder clusters, across value chain networks and cross-linked supply chain systems to determine the drivers of cause and effect which enabled leverage points to be identified which offer opportunities for adaptive management. Fisheries management recommendations are also concluded where value chain diagnosis indicated statistically significant results and scenarios relating to compliance.

This report is the outcome of a study on shark and ray non-fin commodities in India, carried out by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute (ICAR-CMFRI) for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and funded by FAO. The study recognizes the role of shark non-fin commodities in nutrition, trade and livelihoods and seeks to enhance the understanding of shark product utilization in India, which will complement India’s national plan of action on sharks and support policy matters on sharks.