Molecular identification of shark meat traded as cação in southwestern state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Abstract

The meat of sharks and rays is commonly traded in Brazil under the generic name of cação. This compromises the monitoring of which species are being traded. In the present study, molecular marker techniques were applied to the species-level identification of elasmobranch meat traded in the southwest of the State of São Paulo. A total of 15 meats purchased in 2019 were partially sequenced (up to 655 base pairs) for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Of these meats, 14 were from Blue Shark, Prionace glauca, and one from Shortfin Mako Shark, Isurus oxyrinchus. Only two (13,3%) out of the 15 cação meat were species identified on its product label – the other meat was only labeled as cação. Both shark meat that had the scientific name stated on the package label correctly corresponded to the species identification obtained through DNA sequencing. It is suggested that similar studies be conducted in other non-coastal regions of the country to further understanding of the cação trade in locations where elasmobranch consumption is not habitual. The present study was the first to detect the Shortfin Mako Shark sold as cação in Brazil.