Convention on international trade in endangered species

THREATENED SHARK SPECIES FINALLY MAKE IT INTO APPENDIX II LIST

December 2023 brought another historic success for sharks with an unprecedented number of species being added to the CITES Appendix II protection. Representatives of governments around the world agreed to add 60 threatened shark and ray species to the existing list of 51. All species of requiem sharks, all species of hammerhead sharks, and all guitarfish were added to Appendix II following the 19th annual meeting of the Convention on Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The ones that most of us are most familiar with are tiger, bull, oceanic whitetip, blacktip, silky, blue, grey reef, whitetip reef, and blacktip reef sharks.

These sharks have been given protections that limit trade in their meat and fins under international law. However, one must remember that CITES is a trade agreement. The rules mandate countries protected species are traded only if they are sustainably managed. (in a non-detrimental manner). Some countries, like the USA, like to consider their shark fishing sustainable, so how the authorities will actually protect these species remains to be seen. We must make sure the agencies step up to the plate and enforce CITES rules.

While it is a success to get the world to acknowledge this many species being threatened by overfishing, it is also a tragic indicator of how severe the problem is. The Shark Allies team has dedicated all resources and energy to raising awareness with the public, with regulatory agencies, and with international conventions for more than 15 years. Seeing such momentum on the international stage is a testament to the tenacious work shark advocates are accomplishing around the world.