At a recent wildlife trade conference, governments have taken significant action to protect over 70 species of sharks and rays amid ongoing concerns about overfishing pushing some of these species toward extinction. The measures were approved at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, which took place in Uzbekistan. Among the most critical steps is a ban on the trade of oceanic whitetip sharks, manta rays, devil rays, and whale sharks, aimed at curbing the exploitation of these vulnerable species.
The new regulations also include enhanced protections for gulper sharks, smoothhound sharks, and the tope shark. While trade in these species will still be permitted, it will require proof that the sources are legal, sustainable, and traceable. Additionally, governments have agreed to implement zero-annual export quotas for several species of guitarfishes and wedgefishes, effectively halting legal international trade for these species as well.
Luke Warwick, the director of shark and ray conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society, hailed the decisions as a "landmark victory" for conservation advocates. He emphasized the collaborative efforts of countries across Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, and Asia, which united to pass every shark and ray proposal presented during the conference.
Conservationists have long argued that these protective measures are crucial due to the unsustainable nature of the billion-dollar trade in shark fins, meat, oil, and gills. With over 37% of shark and ray species currently threatened with extinction, the situation has reached a critical point that requires immediate action. Barbara Slee, a senior program manager at the International Fund for Animal Welfare, remarked on the historical context, stating that sharks have been victims of massive overfishing for generations. She highlighted that humans kill more than 100 million sharks each year, starkly contrasting the fear humans have of these creatures with the real threat that human activities pose to their survival.
This year’s conference demonstrates a continuation of recent successes regarding shark conservation. The prior meeting in Panama in 2022 saw an increase in protections for over 90 shark species, including 54 requiem shark species, the bonnethead shark, and three species of hammerhead shark, among others. Many of these species had never before received trade protections.
The 1975 international wildlife trade treaty, adopted in Washington, D.C., has garnered praise for its role in curbing the illegal and unsustainable trade of species like ivory, rhino horns, whales, and sea turtles. However, it has also faced criticism for its reliance on financially constrained developing countries to tackle illegal trade, a lucrative market that generates approximately $10 billion annually.
In this year’s discussions, conservationists noted that governments had rejected proposals to weaken regulations surrounding trade in elephants and rhinos. However, they did agree to relax existing trade regulations for saiga horn from Kazakhstan. This decision was met with opposition from conservationists, who expressed concerns that it could lead to increased poaching in neighboring Central Asian countries. The decision comes despite the Saiga antelope being reclassified from critically endangered to near threatened due to improved law enforcement and habitat protection efforts, which have resulted in a notable increase in its population.
