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Guatemala's Shark Meat Trade: 19 Species at Risk

4/22/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Guatemala grapples with the pressures of rising demand for shark and ray meat, particularly during Lent. A recent study uncovered 19 species in the market, with over 20% mislabelled, raising alarms about sustainability. This situation underscores a pressing global crisis in the unregulated elasmobranch trade, threatening marine biodiversity and compliance with CITES.

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Story summary

Guatemala grapples with the pressures of rising demand for shark and ray meat, particularly during Lent. A recent study uncovered 19 species in the market, with over 20% mislabelled, raising alarms about sustainability. This situation underscores a pressing global crisis in the unregulated elasmobranch trade, threatening marine biodiversity and compliance with CITES.