Nations Unite to Protect Sharks and Rays with Landmark Trade Bans

Global governments have taken a significant step to protect vulnerable marine life by agreeing to international trade bans and restrictions on over 70 species of sharks and rays. This landmark decision was made during the 20th Conference of the Parties (COP20) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, last week.

Among the species now receiving protections are the oceanic whitetip sharks, whale sharks, and manta rays. This initiative marks the first time such widespread measures have been adopted to address the alarming decline of these species, which are categorized as apex predators vital to maintaining healthy marine ecosystems. According to Luke Warwick, director of shark and ray conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the global market for these animals is nearly worth $1 billion annually.

The new regulations aim to curb the demand for shark products, including meat and fins, which have contributed to the decline of shark populations by over 70 percent over the past 50 years. “These new protections are a powerful step toward ensuring these species have a real chance at recovery,” stated Diego Cardeñosa, an assistant professor at Florida International University and lead scientist at the school’s Predator Ecology and Conservation Lab.

Approximately one-third of shark and ray species face the threat of extinction, a crisis largely attributed to overfishing. Unlike more commercially valuable fish, such as tuna, sharks and rays have long been subject to less stringent regulations. They reproduce at a slower rate, with manta rays, for example, giving birth to as few as seven live pups in their lifetime.

The demand for manta rays is particularly driven by the traditional medicine market in Asia, where their gill plates are believed to have detoxifying properties. Additionally, shark fins remain a delicacy in luxury cuisine, while shark meat is increasingly utilized as a low-cost protein source and in pet foods.

Over the years, unregulated trade has contributed to population declines exceeding 80 percent in some areas. Gabriel Vianna, a shark researcher from the Charles Darwin Foundation, noted that the cosmetic industry significantly drives the trade of sharks for their livers, which are processed into squalene, an ingredient prevalent in skincare products.

The recent CITES decisions represent a pivotal moment in marine conservation, as historically, the treaty has focused on iconic land species and charismatic marine life like sea turtles. Over the last decade, however, it has increasingly recognized the urgency needed to protect sharks and rays. At COP20, all proposed protections for these species received overwhelming support from CITES’ 185 member countries and the European Union.

The recent listings include gulper sharks and smoothhound sharks, both now classified under CITES’ Appendix II, requiring strict regulation of their trade. In stark contrast, species like oceanic whitetips, whale sharks, and manta rays have been uplisted to Appendix I, indicating they face a significant extinction risk and are afforded the highest level of protection under the treaty.

“If you find an oceanic whitetip fin being traded, that’s an illegal product,” Warwick emphasized. While the new listings are a cause for celebration, they also evoke concern among advocates. “We are very happy but we are very sad at the same time,” Vianna remarked, highlighting the gravity of the situation that necessitated such measures.

The successful implementation of these protections will be crucial for the survival of many species. Recent research by Cardeñosa and Warwick revealed that fins from several shark species, including the oceanic whitetip, were frequently found in Hong Kong, the world’s largest shark fin market, despite existing regulations.

“More than 90 percent of the trade is illegal,” Cardeñosa stated, signifying a substantial gap between documented and actual trade. The uplift of the oceanic whitetip shark to Appendix I aims to close these loopholes, promoting stricter enforcement against illegal trade.

“Parties must invest in identification tools, capacity building, and routine monitoring if these protections are to translate into real reductions in illegal trade,” Cardeñosa concluded. The recent decisions at CITES aim not only to protect these species but also to foster a sustainable future for marine ecosystems worldwide.