The 19th Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), has won a solid victory in the protection of sharks and rays.
Held in Panama, the 2022 edition of CITES raised the protection rate for internationally traded species to 90%—up from just 20% previously. In total, 54 species of requiem shark, 6 species of hammerhead shark and 37 species of guitar fish are now additionally protected under CITES Appendix II.
Essentially, this means that all of these species can only be legally traded if they are not recognized as “endangered”. The victory is being recognized by conservation advocates around the world, including the World Wildlife Fund.
“The agreements reached at this conference on sharks and rays are a welcome relief for several species that are under tremendous pressure from the unregulated trade in their fins and meat,” said Dr. Kinnaird, WWF Practice Team Leader, said in a statement.
“WWF is optimistic that the wins guaranteed at this conference for these aquatic species and their critical ocean habitats will provide the impetus needed for future action on endangered species. other threats,” she added.
For more information about this year’s important conference, you can visit CITES website.
