Shark and Ray ID Guides
NEW - Visual ID Guide to Identify CITES Shark Products
These visual identification tools have been developed by Abercrombie and Dr Jabado to enable trade inspectors, customs officials, and fisheries officials to quickly identify CITES regulated shark products. The tool consists of three guides to support the accurate identification of whole animals, shark trunks (bodies with head and fins removed) to be consumed as meat, and dried products such as shark fins, sawfish rostra, and manta and devil ray gill plates — all products that are frequently traded illegally.
Identification of CITES-listed Wedgefishes and Giant Guitarfishes
This identification guide was developed by Dr. Rima Jabado to support the implementation of CITES Appendix II listed wedgefish and giant guitarfish species (CITES CoP18).
DNA Manual for Shark Fins and Other Products (2018)
This manual was created for use by professional DNA analysts charged with the genetic testing of shark fins, meat fillets and other traded shark products for CITES enforcement. It applies to all shark species listed in the Appendices of CITES as of October 2016 (CITES CoP 17).
CITES Shark Fin and Mobulid Gill Plate ID Posters (2018)
Poster 1 shows key points to look for when identifying oceanic whitetip, porbeagle and hammerhead shark (scalloped, smooth and great) fins; both dorsal and pectoral.
Poster 2 shows the easiest methods for identifying silky dorsal and pectoral fins and thresher shark (bigeye, common and pelagic) pectoral fins.
Poster 3 shows the key characteristics to identify between manta and and mobula rays.
DOWNLOAD SHARK FIN ID POSTER (2 posters - English)
DOWNLOAD SHARK FIN ID POSTER (2 posters - French)
DOWNLOAD SHARK FIN ID POSTER (2 posters - Spanish)
CITES Shark Fin ID Guide (2017)
This guide includes the fins of CITES Appendix II listed oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, and silky sharks.
Mobulid Gill Plate ID Guide (2017)
This guide includes the gill plates of CITES Appendix II listed manta and mobula rays (collectively referred to as mobulid rays).