6 Endangered Species Found in Fish Maw From Singapore and Malaysia Stores: Study

Hard to regulate trade as it is difficult to visually identify products by species, says expert

- Angelica Ang

The DNA of six endangered fish species was found in fish maw products from stores in Singapore and Malaysia, a new study found.

This was uncovered by a pair of researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT), who analysed the DNA of 480 samples of fish maw. The duo published their research on June 24, in the journal Conservation Letters.

Fish maw – a delicacy in Chinese cuisine – is derived from the dried swim bladder of fish. Also known as the air or gas bladder, the organ helps fish modulate their buoyancy, allowing them to remain at a desired depth without floating or sinking.

Widely consumed throughout much of East and South-east Asia, fish maw is regarded as an indicator of wealth, prestige and status in Chinese culture. It is also a popular ingredient in stews and soups, as it brings purported health benefits.

The trade of fish maw products is hard to regulate as it is difficult to visually identify them by species, said NUS Assistant Professor Benjamin Wainwright, one of the study's authors.

He said: "Fish maw has been processed, flattened, cleaned and washed.

"You can't determine what species the maw comes from without using genetic methods – so we have no idea of what species are involved in this trade in South-east Asia."

The aggregation of fish maw and other dried fish products under a common commodity code has also made its trade harder to oversee.