| Summary: | Shark fishing has been part of the mankind history since ancient times. Lots of products have been obtained from this resource and their catch has increased significantly since the 80 's. This has caused a decline in the population of different shark species, and several marine ecosystems have been affected in Ecuador and the world. The aim of this study was to identify shark meat by molecular methods, sold in 11 markets and 3 fisheries in the Metropolitan District of Quito. DNA was extracted from 154 fish samples bought in markets labeled as: white sea bass, “picudo”, tuna, wreckfish, dogfish and “tinto”. Molecular identification was performed through PCR reactions using species specific primers targeting the ITS2 region of ribosomal DNA. Identification was initially made by simple PCR and then multiple PCR was performed to produce diagnostic amplicons; this last technique allows for a simultaneous differentiation between shark species found in the analyzed sample. The molecular identification results showed that 26.67% of the fish samples belonged to 3 different species of shark. The species identified were Prionace glauca (60%), Carcharhinus falciformis (32.5%), and Alopias pelagicus (7.5%). With this information, it can be confirmed that shark meat is being sold under another names in the Metropolitan District of Quito. The protocol for molecular identification of shark species is a reliable and useful tool to characterize shark species when morphological identification is not possible. The methodology used in this study will help to generate reliable information about the use of sharks in Ecuador. This will in turn support policies on fisheries management and conservation of sharks in the country. Also, it will help to confirm the sale of shark meat in Ecuador´s markets and support regularization. La pesca de tiburón ha sido parte de la historia de la humanidad desde tiempos ancestrales. Gran cantidad de productos se han obtenido a partir de este recurso y por esto su pesca ha aumentado significativamente ...
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