Landmark Protections for Sharks and Rays Adopted at Global Summit
In a significant move for marine conservation, governments from across the globe have united to adopt sweeping new protections for more than 70 species of sharks and rays. The decision was made at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) conference in Uzbekistan, reflecting growing international alarm over the devastating impact of overfishing pushing many of these ancient creatures towards extinction.
Specific Measures and Trade Bans
The newly approved measures, ratified on Friday, introduce a comprehensive trade ban for several key species. The international commercial trade of oceanic whitetip sharks, manta rays, devil rays, and whale sharks is now prohibited. For other species, including gulper sharks, smoothhound sharks, and the tope shark, trade regulations have been significantly tightened. From now on, any trade in these sharks must be accompanied by proof that the sources are legal, sustainable, and fully traceable.
Furthermore, in a decisive action for critically endangered families, governments agreed to enact zero-annual export quotas for several species of guitarfishes and wedgefishes. This measure effectively halts the vast majority of the legal international trade for these species, offering them a crucial lifeline.
A Victory for Global Cooperation
Conservation groups have hailed the outcome as a monumental achievement. Luke Warwick, director of shark and ray conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society, described it as a "landmark victory" driven by powerful leadership and solidarity. He noted that countries across Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, and Asia came together to pass every single proposal for shark and ray protection.
The driving force behind these protections is the unsustainable scale of the global shark and ray trade, valued in the billions of pounds. Conservationists argue that relentless hunting for fins, meat, oil, and gills has led to a crisis, with more than 37% of all shark and ray species now threatened with extinction.
Barbara Slee, senior program manager at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, emphasised the stark reality: "People may fear sharks, but the truth is we pose a far greater threat to them—with more than 100 million killed every year. These new protections will help shift that balance and recognise and honour these sharks as more than just fishery commodities."
A Continuing Trend of Conservation Success
This conference builds upon a positive trend for shark conservation established at the previous CITES meeting in Panama in 2022, where protections were extended to over 90 shark species. The international wildlife trade treaty, which came into force in 1975, has a proven record of helping to stem illegal and unsustainable trade in species like elephants and rhinos.
While the conference saw major successes for marine life, it also addressed other complex issues. Governments rejected efforts to weaken trade regulations for elephants and rhinos. However, they did agree to relax regulations for the trade of saiga horn from Kazakhstan, a move that has sparked debate among conservationists despite the antelope's recent reclassification from critically endangered to near threatened.
