Raw Material
Commodity GroupMarine capture fish (shark) — requiem sharks (Carcharhinidae)
Scientific NameRhizoprionodon acutus
PerishabilityHigh
Growing Conditions- Wild-caught marine species in tropical to subtropical coastal and continental shelf waters (including estuaries in some areas), reported to occur from shallow inshore waters to about 200 m depth across the eastern Atlantic and Indo–West Pacific
Main VarietiesMilk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus) — species-identified product (no commercial cultivars)
Consumption Forms- Fresh/chilled meat (steaks or fillets)
- Salted and dried or otherwise preserved shark meat in some markets
- By-products (where utilized and legal), including fins and other parts, which can enter separate value streams
Grading Factors- Species identification and legality documentation (especially for cross-border trade under CITES requirements for requiem sharks)
- Freshness indicators (odor, flesh firmness, gill/eye condition for whole fish, and absence of spoilage defects)
- Presentation (whole vs headed/gutted vs steaks/fillets; skin-on vs skinless) and cleanliness
- Physical damage and handling defects (bruising, cuts, dehydration)
- Size class and yield expectations per buyer specification
Market
Fresh milk shark refers to chilled meat from the milk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus), a small requiem shark distributed across the eastern Atlantic and the Indo–West Pacific (including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and parts of South and Southeast Asia). The species is harvested in coastal and shelf fisheries and is used for food (meat) and other products in local, national, and international channels, but species-level international trade visibility is often limited because many customs categories aggregate sharks. The milk shark is assessed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, making supply continuity sensitive to fisheries controls and rebuilding measures. International trade requirements tightened further with the CITES Appendix II listing for requiem sharks (family Carcharhinidae spp.), increasing the importance of species identification, legality documentation, and permit-ready exporters for cross-border trade.
Major Producing Countries- 인도Indo–West Pacific range state; species is reported as fished and used for food trade in regional fisheries assessments.
- 스리랑카Indian Ocean range state; species is reported as heavily exploited in parts of its range.
- 파키스탄Arabian Sea range state within the species’ Indo–West Pacific distribution.
- 인도네시아Southeast Asian range state; regional shark utilization includes meat and fin products.
- 태국Southeast Asian range state within the species’ Indo–West Pacific distribution.
- 베트남Southeast Asian range state within the species’ Indo–West Pacific distribution.
- 세네갈Eastern Atlantic range state; West African coastal fisheries are part of the species’ reported distribution.
- 모리타니Eastern Atlantic range state within the species’ reported distribution.
Risks
Sustainability And Supply Disruption HighMilk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus) is assessed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List and is reported as heavily exploited in parts of its range; tightening conservation measures or localized stock declines can abruptly reduce landings and exportable volumes. In addition, the CITES Appendix II listing for requiem sharks (family Carcharhinidae spp.) makes international trade more sensitive to permitting, non-detriment findings, and enforcement capacity, increasing the risk of shipment delays or market access loss if documentation is incomplete.Prioritize documented legal origin (catch documentation and vessel/landing records), maintain permit-ready exporter capability for CITES Appendix II compliance, and diversify sourcing across multiple compliant range states to reduce single-area exposure.
Regulatory Compliance HighBecause Carcharhinidae spp. are listed on CITES Appendix II, cross-border trade in listed specimens can require CITES permitting and supporting sustainability findings; inadequate species identification, weak traceability, or missing documentation can lead to detentions, refusals, or seizure risk at borders.Implement species-level identification controls (including training and, where needed, genetic verification), maintain chain-of-custody records, and align export documentation workflows with CITES requirements before contracting fresh/chilled shipments.
IUU And Legality MediumIUU fishing can undermine fishery sustainability and can contaminate export supply chains, especially in multi-gear coastal fisheries where sharks may be landed as mixed species and reporting can be incomplete.Use supplier audits focused on legality and reporting, require verifiable landing documentation, and leverage port controls and traceability systems aligned with FAO guidance on combating IUU fishing.
Food Safety MediumSharks are higher-trophic predatory fish and can present elevated methylmercury risk relative to many smaller species; contaminant compliance and consumer risk communication can affect market access and demand, particularly in stricter regulatory markets.Apply risk-based contaminant monitoring (aligned with Codex contaminant standards and JECFA guidance) and ensure buyer specifications clearly address testing, lots, and destination-market requirements.
Sustainability- Overfishing and bycatch pressure on coastal sharks, with limited resilience in many shark populations and uneven management capacity across range states
- Waste and discards risks (including finning-related concerns) and the need for full utilization/retention measures and improved catch-and-trade reporting under shark management frameworks
- Ecosystem impacts from declines in sharks as predators and the resulting biodiversity and food-web effects
Labor & Social- Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing risks in marine capture supply chains, including links to organized crime and risks of labor abuse in some fisheries contexts
- Occupational safety risks for small-scale and industrial fishers handling sharks (gear entanglement, onboard injuries) and for processing workers handling large fish and sharp tools
FAQ
Is fresh milk shark trade affected by CITES rules?Yes. Milk shark is a requiem shark (family Carcharhinidae), and Carcharhinidae spp. are listed in CITES Appendix II. That means international trade can require CITES-compliant documentation (such as export permits and supporting findings), so buyers often need stronger traceability and species identification than for non-listed seafood.
Where is milk shark found in the wild?Milk shark (Rhizoprionodon acutus) is reported from the eastern Atlantic (e.g., from Madeira and West Africa south to Angola) and widely across the Indo–West Pacific (including the Red Sea and Persian Gulf through South and Southeast Asia, north toward Japan and south toward Australia), mainly in coastal and shelf waters.
What are the key food safety concerns for shark meat in general?A major concern is methylmercury, which can be higher in predatory fish like sharks. Many buyers manage this by specifying contaminant limits and testing approaches aligned with Codex contaminant standards and JECFA scientific guidance, alongside strict cold-chain control for freshness.