Effective Policy Implementation Research Articles

Policy Implementation of Parking Implementation In Pekanbaru City, Riau Province

The aim of this research is to analyze the implementation of parking management policies in Pekanbaru City, the obstacles faced in implementing parking management policies in Pekanbaru City and the ideal and effective policy implementation model for parking management in Pekanbaru City. This research uses the policy implementation theory proposed by Smith which consists of idealized policy, target groups, implementing organization and environmental factors. The research method used is a qualitative approach with descriptive research type. The data analysis technique used is data reduction and drawing conclusions. The results of the research show that the implementation of local government policies in organizing parking in Pekanbaru City has gone well, this can be seen from: idealized policy, proper parking management in Pekanbaru City is able to support the existing transportation system, target groups, very closely related to taking decisions that involve many people, especially the community. implementing organizing, this difference in capacity and competency is one of the aspects that makes the implementation of this policy not optimal. Environmental factors, the obstacle for the Pekanbaru City Parking UPT is the lack of qualified human resources. Barriers to implementing parking policies in Pekanbaru City: commitment to service quality, quality of human resources for government officials and parking attendants, well-developed public communication.

Evaluating E-court systems in regional governments in developing countries using technology acceptance model

Due to the rise of digital transformations, the integration of advanced technologies in law courts globally is accelerating. This technological adoption enhances the efficiency and reach of justice administration, encompassing case registration, decision-making, and execution. This study investigates the acceptance and usage of e-court systems by regional governments in developing countries, utilizing the technology acceptance model (TAM) as the evaluative framework. As e-court systems become increasingly crucial in enhancing the efficiency and transparency of judicial proceedings, understanding their acceptance within developing countries becomes significant. It examines the role of perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) in shaping attitudes toward using (ATU) in these systems, ultimately influencing the behavioral intention to use (BIU). Primary data collected from several regional governments employing e-court systems are analyzed. The findings indicate varying acceptance levels, predominantly influenced by the perceived usefulness of the systems in streamlining court processes. However, the perceived ease of use is less influential, indicating a potential area of improvement for system developers. This research contributes to the discourse on the digital transformation of judicial systems in developing regions, providing insights that could guide effective policy formulation and implementation.

Depolarized by the Media? The Role of Heterogeneous and Homogeneous Traditional and Digital Media Diets in Issue Polarization Around COVID-19 in the United States

ABSTRACT Research suggests that a heterogeneous media diet can foster more objective information evaluations, reducing issue polarization as a result. These findings beg the question: Can increased news heterogeneity reduce issue polarization around COVID-19? Using data from a cross-sectional survey in the United States (N = 1,262), this study found that – in line with theoretical expectations – at high levels of homogeneity of traditional and digital news consumption, the difference in support for COVID-19 prevention between Biden and Trump supporters was significantly large. Conversely, this attitude gap narrowed at high news heterogeneity levels. Our results continue to advance research on the role of homogeneous and heterogeneous media diets and biased cognitive processing in issue polarization, a crucial endeavor as polarization poses a challenge to effective public health policy implementation and pandemic management. At the outset, the implications of our findings for pandemic communication (and health communication more generally) are discussed.

Practical study of the implementation of circular economy at agricultural enterprises of Ukraine

Given the role of the agricultural sector in the development of the Ukrainian economy, it is important to find methods to improve the efficiency of its operation. Since one of them is the introduction of a circular economy, the study of cases of its application in the country is relevant. The purpose of the study was to show an example of the implementation of this concept in Ukraine, depicting the advantages and disadvantages of its application. The main research methods were analysis, comparison, and forecasting. The most significant example of implementing the principles of circular economics at the enterprise, namely the company Myronivsky Hliboproduct, was evaluated. It was shown that the company's approach is based on processing waste into biogas and using it as energy. This process not only helps to avoid increasing CO2 emissions into the atmosphere, but also makes much more efficient use of the available resources. In addition, the features water recycling and existing trends in this area were described. Special attention was paid to the difficulties that the company faced during the start of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022, and what actions were taken to improve the situation. Conclusions were also drawn about the likely opportunities for the company to achieve its goals in the context of the circular economy, considering current trends in the development of Ukraine. The practical value of the study lies in its usefulness for developing recommendations for enterprises to implement the concept of a circular economy. In addition, data from the study can be used by state representatives to improve the effectiveness of policy implementation in the agricultural sector

PECULIARITIES OF ENERGY TRANSITION IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS COUNTRIES

The authors have identified the problems and prospects of implementing the energy transition from conventional to renewable energy in the countries of the South Caucasus in the context of the challenges of sustainable development. The authors analyzed the concept of «sustainable energy» with the definition of its basic components (security, quality of life, environment). The issues of energy transition are studied in the context of new geopolitical challenges, as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The authors presented the specifics of the development of energy systems of the countries of the region in the context of both energy security and integration challenges. Through comparative analysis, the authors have identified opportunities for effective implementation of energy transition policies in the countries of the region. The article studies the structure of existing capacities of the power systems of Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan, which allowed to determine the share of renewable energy in these countries. A comparative analysis of renewable energy development in the countries of the region has been carried out to determine the possibilities of increasing hydro, solar, wind, geothermal and bioenergy components. The authors also assess a number of major renewable energy projects currently being implemented in the region.

Inflation in Eurozone, Converging and Diverging Countries

The paper analyses the progress eurozone members made towards the convergence of inflation rates, which is a necessary condition for the effective implementation of the common monetary policy broadly appropriate for all members. It was expected that the common monetary policy would lead to the convergence of member states’ economic performance, including inflation rates. The literature review shows that the majority of authors agree that a significant convergence process occurred before 1999, but no further progress was made after that. Our analysis indicates that inflation processes in member countries are diverse. Namely, monetary stability has been achieved in some countries, while inflation is more volatile in others. There is an insufficient correlation between inflation rates, the different transmission of shocks to inflation and different exposure to risks of rising energy and food prices. We conducted a unit root test on the series of inflation differentials for each country to determine which countries were in a process of absolute convergence. In the group of the first 12 members, we found evidence of convergence for the majority of countries, as there is no unit root. Thus, individual countries indeed made progress toward greater monetary stability (and the EMU level). We examined the standard deviations of the inflation differentials in the group of converging countries (separately for converging core and peripheral countries) and found no evidence that these groups of countries are becoming more homogeneous. In the group of new EMU members, we found evidence of convergence towards the EMU average for only four countries in the period of their membership, but not in the previous period.

Does ERA5-land capture the changes in the terrestrial hydrological cycle across the globe?

Changes in the terrestrial hydrological cycle determine the future water availability across the globe with profound impacts in different facets of society. Precise estimation of such changes is vital for the effective implementation of water management policies. Among the numerous data products that describe the hydrological cycle components, ERA5-Land is one of the most increasingly used dataset. Still, there has been no assessment of its ability capacity to represent the water cycle shifts variability over land. This study endeavors to bridge this gap by comparing the magnitude and direction of change in precipitation minus evaporation (P—E) and runoff, as estimated globally by the ERA5-Land data product. Our findings reveal significant inconsistencies in the changes identified, with the climatological mean of P—E decreasing more substantially than runoff for numerous regions. Consequently, ERA5 presents a declining water availability for most of the regions, but the magnitude of change is incompatible to the change between P—E and runoff. To further validate, the estimates provided by the ERA5-Land product, two different hydrologic models (TerraClimate and Global Land Data Assimilation System, GLDAS-Noah) are also utilized. TerraClimate demonstrates a more reasonable alignment between changes in P—E and runoff, followed by GLDAS-Noah, particularly for the arid regions lying in the parts of Northern Africa and Southern Asia, the European continent, and the northern parts of Asia. Inconsistencies remain high for the tropical regions for both data products. Still, the estimates of change in water availability are better represented by the hydrologic model-based data sources for most parts of the globe, especially for the regions with low precipitation, such as the regions with arid and continental climates. Our results imply that ERA5-Land should be used with extreme caution when assessing the long-term changes in the terrestrial water cycle. Additionally, pinpointing the regions of the highest bias can help to improve the hydrological coupling of ERA5-Land in future versions of the reanalysis.

Human Rights And Public Policy Implementation : Narcotics

This research discusses the relationship between Human Rights (HAM) and the implementation of public policies related to narcotics. In a global context, narcotics policies are often a source of controversy due to their impact on individual rights. This research evaluates how narcotics policies can affect basic rights such as the rights to life, liberty, health and justice. In some cases, harsh legal crackdowns on narcotics have led to human rights violations, such as arbitrary arrest and detention, as well as the use of force by security forces. On the other hand, some countries have tried alternative approaches, including decriminalization or legalization of narcotics, with the aim of reducing the negative impact on individuals. This research uses a normative approach. The conclusion from this research is that it is important to maintain a balance between efforts to prevent and handle narcotics with protecting individual human rights. Effective implementation of narcotics policies must take into account the basic rights of individuals and seek to reduce negative social impacts. This research underlines the need for a holistic and sustainable approach in dealing with narcotics issues without compromising human rights

STATE POLICY IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL SPHERE: A SAFE COMPONENT

The article examines the relationship between state policy, the environmental sphere, and security. It was determined that the main problem is the development and effective implementation of the state environmental policy, which would ensure sustainable development and environmental safety, taking into account modern environmental challenges. It is emphasized that environmental policy can be integrated into various spheres of social life (economy, social policy, education and health). It has been confirmed that issues of state policy in the environmental sphere require the development of an integrated approach, which will include legislative regulation, scientific and research activities, education and public involvement. The connections between the state policy in the environmental sphere and security (connection with the health and well-being of the population; risks of environmental pollution of air, water and soil; the impact of environmental policy on energy security) have been studied as an important factor that contributes to social stability, strengthens trust to the authorities and raises public awareness of environmental issues, the active participation of the public in the formation and implementation of environmental policy is recognized. The legislative field regarding environmental policy is characterized and the root causes of environmental problems in Ukraine are listed. Environmental risks associated with the conduct of military operations are described. Data from the official resource of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine "EkoZagroza" regarding and impact on the environment are given. The role of public involvement work and educational campaigns aimed at raising citizens' awareness of environmental problems and the need to solve them has been defined. The importance of global environmental challenges and their impact on human health, the economy and the stability of society is revealed. The need to form an integrated approach to environmentally caused diseases in the context of safety is emphasized. The need to involve a wide range of stakeholders, including government institutions, the scientific community, the business sector and civil society, is emphasized. Directions for increasing the effectiveness of state policy in the environmental sphere are presented and their characteristics are given.

Disparities and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine policies in three representative European countries

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine the Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19) vaccine policies disparities and effectiveness in Germany, Denmark and Bulgaria, with a view to providing lessons for global vaccination and response to possible outbreak risks.MethodsThis study analyzed big data through public information on the official websites of the Ministries of Health of the European Union, Germany, Denmark and Bulgaria and the official websites of the World Health Organization. We systematically summarized the COVID-19 vaccine policies of the three countries, and selected the following six indicators for cross-cutting vaccination comparisons: COVID-19 vaccine doses administered per 100 people, COVID-19 vaccination rate, the share of people with fully vaccinated, the share of people only partly vaccinated, cumulative confirmed COVID-19 cases per million, cumulative confirmed COVID-19 deaths per million. Meanwhile, we selected the following four indicators for measuring the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine policy implementation: daily cases per million, daily deaths per million, the effective reproduction rate (Rt), the moving-average case fatality rate (CFR).ResultsAlthough these three EU countries had the same start time for vaccination, and the COVID-19 vaccine supply was coordinated by the EU, there are still differences in vaccination priorities, vaccination types, and vaccine appointment methods. Compared to Germany and Denmark, Bulgaria had the least efficient vaccination efforts and the worst vaccination coverage, with a vaccination rate of just over 30% as of June 2023, and the maximum daily deaths per million since vaccination began in the country was more than three times that of the other two countries. From the perspective of implementation effect, vaccination has a certain effect on reducing infection rate and death rate, but the spread of new mutant strains obviously aggravates the severity of the epidemic and reduces the effectiveness of the vaccine. Among them, the spread of the Omicron mutant strain had the most serious impact on the three countries, showing an obvious epidemic peak.ConclusionsExpanding vaccination coverage has played a positive role in reducing COVID-19 infection and mortality rates and stabilizing Rt. Priority vaccination strategies targeting older people and at-risk groups have been shown to be effective in reducing COVID-19 case severity and mortality in the population. However, the emergence and spread of new variant strains, and the relaxation of epidemic prevention policies, still led to multiple outbreaks peaking. In addition, vaccine hesitancy, mistrust in government and ill-prepared health systems are hampering vaccination efforts. Among the notable ones are divergent types of responses to vaccine safety issue could fuel mistrust and hesitancy around vaccination. At this stage, it is also necessary to continue to include COVID-19 vaccination in priority vaccination plans and promote booster vaccination to prevent severe illness and death. Improving the fairness of vaccine distribution and reducing the degree of vaccine hesitancy are the focus of future vaccination work.

The The Effect of Political Ideology on Public Administration Policy

Abstract The relationship between political ideology and public administration policy has been studied extensively in the past few decades. Research has indicated that political actors play a crucial role in shaping public administration policy as they are the ones who are elected to represent the interests of the voters. Public opinion also plays an important role in shaping policy as it is the voice of the people who elect government officials.
 The aim of this study is to explore the correlation between political ideology and public administration policy, the impact of political actors on public administration policy, the role of public opinion in shaping public administration policy, and the effects of policy implementation on political ideology.
 The methodology employed in this study involves qualitative analysis of survey data obtained from a wide range of sources such as books, journals, and various documents.
 The findings of this study suggest that political ideology is strongly correlated with public administration policy. The impact of political actors on public administration policy is significant, with those in power often shaping policy to fit their own political agendas. Public opinion has a significant impact on policy formation, with policymakers often looking to cater their policies to the needs and desires of the electorate. Policy implementation has also been found to have a significant impact on political ideology, with policies that are successfully implemented often creating an ideological landscape that is difficult to change.
 Keywords: policy implementation, political actors, political ideology, public administration policy, public opinion.

ON THE WAY TO DIVERSITY, EQUALITY, AND INCLUSIVENESS IN HIGHER EDUCATION: SHOWCASE OF NAZARBAYEV UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

The paper delves into the essential role of universities in providing all students with equal access and opportunities, focusing on their specific responsibilities towards this goal. It scrutinizes the Diversity, Equality, and Inclusivity (DEI) policy at Nazarbayev University (NU), highlighting its dedication to an inclusive academic atmosphere. Evaluating NU’s DEI practices is crucial, reflecting the university’s commitment to an inclusive educational environment. The paper emphasizes the critical need for practical, effective implementation of DEI policies, moving beyond mere theoretical discourse. It examines various strategies and initiatives to ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion are genuinely embedded in the university’s culture, curriculum, and community life. Furthermore, it identifies persistent challenges to achieving real inclusivity in higher education and proposes solutions through innovative and consistent university leadership efforts. Concluding with a forward-looking discussion, the paper suggests potential improvements and strategies for NU’s leadership to refine DEI policies. These recommendations encompass policy modifications, program development, and community engagement to establish a more inclusive and equitable educational environment.

Millennial Generation (Gen-Y) Preferences Towards Landed House Ownership in Yogyakarta Urban Agglomeration Using Logistic Regression

The city of Yogyakarta has become a magnet for the millennial generation (Gen-Y), leading to increased urbanization as residents flock to the city. This surge has resulted in a growing demand for land to accommodate public facilities, social amenities, and housing for workers. Despite soaring land prices, driven by high demand, land stocks have not diminished. Over the last 16 years, land prices have escalated by 30 times. However, the wages of Gen-Y formal workers in the DIY region stand at IDR 2,361,434, with an annual increase of only 8.51%. This rapid growth in property prices has not kept pace with the income growth of the millennial generation, raising concerns about their ability to access landed house ownership. This study aims to identify the preferences of the millennial generation regarding landed house ownership in the Yogyakarta Urban Agglomeration. The analytical method employed is Logistic Regression, involving 125 respondents of Gen-Y workers aged 27 to 41 years in the Yogyakarta Urban Agglomeration. Seven variables, encompassing 25 categorical predictors, were considered. The significant indicators influencing Gen-Y preferences in landed house ownership include the cost of building a house, building materials, and the nominal installment of the house. The findings of this research can be instrumental for relevant stakeholders in formulating policies in the housing sector, particularly in the regulation of subsidized housing for the Gen-Y. The contribution of this study lies in providing essential information for informed decision-making and effective policy implementation to tackle the housing challenges faced by the millennial generation in the Yogyakarta Urban Agglomeration.

Stakeholder analysis for effective implementation of water management system: Case of groundwater charge in South Korea

Groundwater Charge was introduced in 2005 as one of the sustainable resource management measures in South Korea. The implementation rate, however, stagnated around 37 %, indicating that most local governments chose not to adopt this ‘optional’ regulation. While previous Stakeholder Analysis studies mainly blamed exclusion – or limited involvement – of stakeholders in the designing and structuring stage of policy-making process for policy failures, this study focused on the interest conflicts and dynamics hindered implementation process. This is because the issue with the subject policy, i.e., Groundwater Charge in South Korea, is low ‘implementation rate’ not the ‘collection rate’ or ‘tax deficit.’ If it was simply design or structural issue, the Charge should suffer from tax deficit problem due to lower tax income than operational costs. Thus, in order to investigate the reasons of low Charge adoption rate at the local government level, the Stakeholder Analysis Theory was applied to examine each stakeholder of the Charge to distinguish the interaction among supportive and opposing groups. The analysis revealed that there are only strong opponents of the policy without clearly identifiable supporters. Having agricultural & fishery industry and small independent businesses in spas, hotels, and swimming pool as strong Players, the Context setters (local governments) are not motivated to enforce Groundwater charge. Furthermore, today's social norm governed by economic efficiency is preventing the environmentalists and other Subjects to counteract Players. Under these circumstances, this study recommends the Subject to transform the Crowds (general public) into policy supporters through education. Environmental education is the only viable means to encourage necessary paradigm shift to enable effective implementation of environmental policies like Groundwater charge.

Research on the incentive effect of the policy combination of carbon-reduction pilot cities

This paper investigates the impact of policy combinations on the process of urban carbon reduction using panel data from 284 pilot cities in China. We analyze the incentive process of pilot city policies under three dimensions of the administrative subcontract and verify the impact of different policy combinations on carbon emissions. Our findings suggest that the policy combinations of dual pilot cities significantly reduced carbon intensity and had a complementary effect. In heterogeneity analysis, the policy combinations of dual pilot cities significantly reduced carbon intensity in central and western cities but did not affect eastern cities. We also find that the policy path dependence formed by becoming a “low-carbon city” first and then a “demonstration city” had a better carbon reduction incentive effect than becoming a “demonstration city” first and then a “low-carbon city”. The study results show that the order of policy combinations will bring different policy effects, and paying attention to the incentive mechanism differences of different policy combinations will help improve policy implementation effects. Our research highlights the importance of policy combinations in promoting urban carbon reduction and provides policy implications for governments to design effective carbon reduction policies.

Sustaining Regional Equality and Interdisciplinary integration of Arts and Sciences through Creativity Research in STEAM Education Systems

STEAM education system is largely being incorporated within different countries to develop creativity and problemsolving skills among the students. This study has also focused on sustaining regional equality and interdisciplinary integration of arts and sciences via creativity research in STEAM education systems. For this study, the qualitative data was collected from 12 science teachers working in different Chinese high schools. Thematic analysis was used for analyzing the collected interview transcripts. Four important themes were formulated which include (a) STEAM Education System, (b) Creativity in STEAM Education System, (c) STEAM Education System Issues and (d) Recommendations for STEAM Education System. The results obtained from this study showed that STEAM education system helps in encouraging student engagement, following interdisciplinary integration of arts and sciences. However, regional inequality in China prevents effective accessibility and quality of STEAM education in rural regions of the country, emphasizing the development and implementation of effective educational and regional policies. This study has also provided different practical and theoretical implications within the context of STEAM education systems.

Understanding distracted pedestrians’ risky behaviour: The role of walking and visual characteristics through a field study

Use of mobile phones while crossing the road has become a growing safety concern among pedestrians. Though recently, some studies have attempted to understand risky behaviour of distracted pedestrians by analyzing impacts of distraction on pedestrians’ walking and visual characteristics, the impacts were measured individually. Moreover, most of the existing findings are based on lab-based experiments, whereas the real-world conditions are quite dynamic in nature. Hence, to overcome these gaps, the current study aims to understand to what extent different potential factors (such as distraction, walking characteristics, visual behaviour, etc.) affect the risk of unsafe pedestrian-vehicle interactions in real-world settings. For this purpose, a field experiment was designed to understand the impact of distraction on pedestrians’ risky behaviour using an eye-tracker at an unsignalized intersection in Delhi. The risk assessment was done using Post-Encroachment Time (PET) measure. The results indicate that the use of mobile phone while crossing the road increased the chances of unsafe (PET < 1.5 s) pedestrian-vehicle interactions by approximately eight folds. Surprisingly, pedestrians who crossed the intersection at high speed had higher chances of unsafe interactions, whereas their increased crossing initiation time reduced the probability of unsafe interactions. Moreover, increased pupil diameter and fixating more on vehicles approaching from the right side resulted in a reduced probability of unsafe interactions. However, the high frequency of saccades and higher fixations on the crosswalk's right side negatively affected unsafe interactions. This study highlights that it is important to consider visual characteristics along with demographic and walking and traffic characteristics as they can provide in-depth insights into pedestrians’ road crossing behaviour that are required to design and implement effective countermeasures and policies.

The importance of public health in "Sólo Gente"

Public health is a crucial issue in any society, and Argentina is no exception. Through the implementation of effective policies and programs, it seeks to promote and protect the health of the entire population, prevent diseases and improve the quality of life of citizens. This paper will analyze the importance of public health, a central theme in the movie "Sólo Gente". The plot of the movie takes place in a dystopian future where society is highly controlled and people live under constant surveillance. Through this futuristic setting, the film indirectly addresses several aspects related to public health. In the film, the government has exceptional control over people's health and uses advanced technology to monitor and control their physical and mental well-being. This depiction raises ethical and social questions about privacy and free will. It also highlights the importance of people having autonomy over their bodies and health decisions. In the context of public health, the film also shows how the state can use its power to prioritize certain aspects of health over others; another important aspect is the importance of equitable access to health care and how exclusion from the system can lead to negative consequences for those who do not have access to health services. In conclusion, the film "Just People" addresses several issues related to public health, such as privacy, individual liberty, health prioritization, health care systems, and equity in access to health services.

Discursive Construction of External School Quality Assurance Policy Actors’ Power in Selected Secondary Schools in Tanzania

In 2017, the School Quality Assurance (SQA) policy was adopted and implemented in secondary schools in Tanzania. Since the beginning of its implementation to date, not much is known about how SQA policy discourses construct external SQA policy actors’ power versus internal SQA policy actors. This study analyzed how SQA policy discourses discursively construct external SQA policy actors’ power in selected secondary schools in Tanzania. Since policies are implemented through the production, distribution, and consumption of texts and discourses, the study was mainly based on textual and discourse analyses. Findings indicate that SQA policy discourses reconstructed the power of external SQA policy actors rather than the internal SQA policy actors and stakeholders. It is argued that by empowering external SQA policy actors, SQA policy implementation becomes more or less the same as school inspection. It is recommended that an effective SQA policy implementation needs to empower internal SQA policy actors because they interact daily with teachers and students to improve teaching and learning, curriculum, school leadership, school environment, and community engagement.

DNA barcoding continues to identify endangered species of shark sold as food in a globally significant shark fin trade hub.

Shark fins are a delicacy consumed throughout Southeast Asia. The life history characteristics of sharks and the challenges associated with regulating fisheries and the fin trade make sharks particularly susceptible to overfishing. Here, we used DNA barcoding techniques to investigate the composition of the shark fin trade in Singapore, a globally significant trade hub. We collected 505 shark fin samples from 25 different local seafood and Traditional Chinese Medicine shops. From this, we identified 27 species of shark, three species are listed as Critically Endangered, four as Endangered and ten as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Six species are listed on CITES Appendix II, meaning that trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival. All dried fins collected in this study were sold under the generic term "shark fin"; this vague labelling prevents accurate monitoring of the species involved in the trade, the effective implementation of policy and conservation strategy, and could unwittingly expose consumers to unsafe concentrations of toxic metals. The top five most frequently encountered species in this study are Rhizoprionodon acutus, Carcharhinus falciformis, Galeorhinus galeus, Sphyrna lewini and Sphyrna zygaena. Accurate labelling that indicates the species of shark that a fin came from, along with details of where it was caught, allows consumers to make an informed choice on the products they are consuming. Doing this could facilitate the avoidance of species that are endangered, and similarly the consumer can choose not to purchase species that are documented to contain elevated concentrations of toxic metals.