CITES Approves Protections for 70+ Shark and Ray Species

Governments from more than 100 countries voted last Friday at a wildlife trade conference in Uzbekistan to extend protections to over 70 species of sharks and rays, imposing trade bans and stricter regulations amid widespread concerns over overfishing. The decision at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES, marks a significant step in addressing the sharp declines in these ocean dwellers.

The agreement places oceanic whitetip sharks, manta rays, devil rays and whale sharks on CITES Appendix I, which effectively bans international commercial trade in these species to prevent further exploitation. Other measures strengthen oversight for gulper sharks, smoothhound sharks and the tope shark under Appendix II, allowing trade only if it can be proven legal, sustainable and traceable. Additionally, several species of guitarfish and wedgefish now face annual export quotas of zero, halting most legal international trade.

Conservation experts hailed the outcome as a major advancement. Luke Warwick, director of shark and ray conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society, described it as a landmark victory. "This is the first...