Understanding species composition of fish maw trade in China using COI analysis for conservation

Fish maw is made of fish swim bladderafter dried and has been used for food and traditional Chinese medicine forhundreds of years. Fish species of the maws, however, are poorly documented,although the major taxa were believed... [ view full abstract ]

Fish maw is made of fish swim bladderafter dried and has been used for food and traditional Chinese medicine forhundreds of years. Fish species of the maws, however, are poorly documented,although the major taxa were believed from Sciaenidae (Perciformes).In thisstudy, 23 different morphological types of fish maws consisting of 405 samples(including 39 fried maw samples) were collected from dried seafood markets inmainland China and Hong Kong. Totally 206 individual fish maw samples and 4fried maw samples were successfully obtained the COI gene sequences, i.e. 52%success rate. Totally 37 fish species from 5 orders, 10families and 27 generawere identified, among these, 26 were confirmed to species level and 11 wereconfirmed to genus level. Our study revealed the active international fish mawtrade in China because among the 26 fish species confirmed, only 7 occur indomestic waters. The rest 19 fishes distribute in Africa, Americaand Indo-West Pacific beyond China. Two fish species, Totoaba macdonaldi and Bahaba taipingensis in Sciaenidae, were listed as “Critically Endangered” (CR) in IUCN RedList, both their dried maw were found trading in China; the former listedin CITES Appendix I since 1977 and the latter listed in Grade II of NationalProtected Animals of China since 1988. Based on international and national regulationand law, the commercial capture and trade of the two species are banned. Thefish maw trade internationally, regionally and nationally merits closemonitoring to ensure the conservation of endangered fish species and thesustainable use of fish maws.