CITES Grants Historic Protections to Over 70 Shark and Ray Species, Tightens Trade Restrictions

Sharks and rays just secured some of the strongest international protections in history, as more than 70 species were granted new trade bans or tight restrictions under the global wildlife trade treaty CITES.[2][3][4]

At the 20th Conference of the Parties (COP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, governments agreed to ban or strictly regulate international trade in shark meat, fins, gill plates, liver oil and other products for species being driven toward extinction.[2][4] Conservation groups are calling the outcome a watershed moment for marine protection and shark conservation.[3][4]

Why this vote matters

Sharks and rays are among the most threatened vertebrates on Earth. Scientists estimate that more than 37% of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction, largely due to overfishing, finning and international trade.[4] Pelagic sharks have declined by over 70% in the last 50 years, and reef sharks are now functionally extinct on about 20% of surveyed coral reefs worldwide.[4]

Because many sharks and rays travel across borders and high seas, national laws alone can’t save them.[1] That is where CITES comes in. As the only global agreement with legal power to restrict wildlife trade, CITES can shut down or tightly control the international markets that fuel overexploitation.[1][2][4]

What countries agreed at CITES COP20

Delegates from 184 countries voted to pass every shark and ray proposal on the table, co‑sponsored by more than 50 governments.[1][4] Together, these decisions:

• Add over 70 shark and ray species to CITES Appendices for full or partial protection.[1][2][4]
• Close major loopholes in trade of fins, gill plates, meat and liver oil.[2][4]
• Mark the most ambitious and comprehensive package of shark and ray protections ever adopted under CITES.[4]

According to shark scientists and advocates, these moves could mean the difference between recovery and extinction for some species.[2][4]

Who gained the highest level of protection?

Several iconic and highly threatened species have now been placed on Appendix I, which bans almost all commercial international trade:

• Whale sharks – the world’s largest fish, targeted for fins and vulnerable to ship strikes.[1][2][3]
• All manta and devil rays – prized for their gill plates used in traditional medicines.[1][2][3]
• Oceanic whitetip sharks – once common, now collapsed across much of their range due to fin and meat trade.[2][4]

Appendix I means these animals can no longer be traded internationally for commercial purposes. Any trade is allowed only in exceptional, non‑commercial cases with strict permits.[1][2] As one expert noted, if an oceanic whitetip fin is found in trade after the rules take effect, it is simply illegal.[2]

Previously, the only rays on Appendix I were sawfishes; whale sharks and manta rays had lower levels of protection, and oceanic whitetips were on Appendix II.[1][2] Their uplisting reflects just how close to extinction trade has pushed them.

New Appendix II protections: trade, but only if sustainable

Many other sharks and rays are now listed on Appendix II, which still allows trade but only if it is legal, traceable and scientifically shown to be sustainable.[1][2][4] Countries must issue export permits and prove that trade will not harm wild populations.

New or strengthened Appendix II listings include:

• Deep‑sea gulper sharks, targeted for liver oil used in cosmetics and supplements.[1][2]
• Tope and smooth‑hound sharks, traded heavily for their meat and fins.[1][5]
• Additional pelagic and coastal sharks that supply the global fin and meat markets.[2][4]

History suggests Appendix II can help: great white shark populations around the U.S. have rebounded since they were listed in 2005, although other regions still struggle.[1]

Zero‑quota species: trade temporarily shut down

For some of the most imperiled species, Parties approved “zero‑quota” CITES listings—essentially a temporary trade moratorium:

• Several species of wedgefishes and guitarfishes, shark‑like rays whose highly valued fins have driven them to the brink, now have a zero annual export quota, stopping legal international trade while populations recover.[1][2][3]

These measures operate like a near‑total ban, buying time for species already in freefall.[3][4]

A turning point for marine conservation

Conservation organizations including the Wildlife Conservation Society and the International Fund for Animal Welfare hailed the outcome as a historic victory.[3][4] They emphasize that:

• Sharks and rays are now one of the best‑covered marine groups under CITES.[3][4]
• The decisions close long‑standing gaps that had allowed fins, gill plates and liver oil from threatened species to move through global supply chains untracked.[2][4]
• The package reflects unprecedented global cooperation, with countries from Latin America, Africa, the Pacific and Asia jointly championing the proposals.[2][4]

Scientists say these protections are “a powerful step” that finally gives many species a real chance at recovery, as long as governments follow through.[2]

The implementation challenge ahead

New listings alone do not save species. Their success depends on how well countries:

• Update national laws to reflect the new CITES listings and penalties.[1][2]
• Train customs officers and inspectors to identify fins, meat and gill plates to species level.[2]
• Invest in DNA tools and forensic methods to catch illegal shipments hidden in legal trade.[2]
• Conduct routine monitoring and share trade data and enforcement results.[2]

Experts warn that illegal trade will not disappear overnight, but argue that these listings greatly strengthen the ability of authorities to inspect, detect and prosecute traffickers.[2]

For many advocates, the mood is bittersweet. They are relieved to see landmark protections adopted, yet deeply concerned that sharks and rays have declined so far that such drastic measures are needed.[2] The next few years will be critical to determine whether this historic CITES package can turn the tide for some of the ocean’s most ancient and threatened predators.

For now, though, the message from Samarkand is clear: the world is finally taking the global trade in sharks and rays seriously—and drawing a line before more species disappear.

Original source: Ars Technica – Sharks and rays gain landmark protections as nations move to curb international trade