CITES expanded protections for over 70 shark and ray species, a move conservationists call a “historic win.”
Delegates at the Uzbekistan meeting approved stricter trade limits for species from whale sharks to manta rays. Experts warn that overfishing and climate change increasingly threaten these species.
Barbara Slee, senior programme manager at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, said, “Scientific data shows sharks need conservation, not exploitation.”
Key Species Gain Stronger Safeguards
CITES placed whale sharks, manta rays, and devil rays on Appendix I, banning most international trade. Countries had previously listed the critically endangered oceanic whitetip shark.
Other species, including tope and smooth-hound sharks, and gulper sharks, moved to Appendix II. These species may only trade sustainably under strict regulation.
The proposal passed by consensus after heated discussions on other species, including eels, signaling a shift in how the global community views shark conservation.
Urgent Need to Address Extinction Threats
The International Union for Conservation of Nature reports that over a third of shark and ray species face extinction, mainly from overfishing.
Fishers target specific parts, such as fins or liver, while others die accidentally in nets aimed at other species.
Slee said these protections could mark an end to overfishing and offer a new hope for the survival of shark populations worldwide.
