Sharks Get New Protections: Trade Bans for Over 70 Species

Governments at a recent wildlife trade conference have significantly enhanced protections for over 70 species of sharks and rays. These crucial measures, adopted at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, include outright trade bans for species such as oceanic whitetip sharks, manta rays, and whale sharks.

Further protections will strengthen regulations for gulper sharks, smoothhound sharks, and tope sharks, requiring proof of legal, sustainable, and traceable sourcing for any trade. Additionally, zero-annual export quotas were agreed upon for several species of guitarfishes and wedgefishes, effectively halting most international trade in these vulnerable marine animals.

Conservationists celebrated the outcome as a landmark victory, highlighting that more than 37% of shark and ray species are currently threatened with extinction due to unsustainable fishing practices for fins, meat, and other products. The conference also saw governments reject efforts to weaken trade regulations for elephants and rhinos.