DNA barcoding to help in conservation of sharks and rays in Thai waters

Researchers from the Burapha University and Thailand’s Fisheries Department have been formulating a national action plan to conserve and manage shark and ray species in Thai waters, in line with international standards, to increase the body of knowledge in biology and ecology and to monitor the utilisation of sharks and rays.

Dr. Wiparat Dee-ong, executive director of the National Research Council of Thailand, said that the aim of the plan is to build a database of shark and ray species in Thai waters using a DNA barcoding technique, to identify ray or shark species from dried fins, canned meat or food made of various parts of sharks or rays.

There are 87 shark and 99 ray species in Thai waters, but most are under threat from overfishing.

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/dna-barcoding-to-help-in-conservation-of-sharks-and-rays-in-thai-waters/