White Smoke Billows for Sharks at CITES

14. März 2013

In a dramatic Plenary session, trade restrictions were adopted today for five species of sharks and two manta ray. Native to Europe, and highly valued for its meat, the proposal to list Porbeagle finally secured the support required from the Plenary session of the 16^th Conference of Parties (CoP) to CITES. In addition, Freshwater Sawfish was finally uplisted from Appendix II to the stricter Appendix I, curtailing further international trade. Crucially, attempts to reopen the debate on the shark proposals were defeated.

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Historic Shark Decisions Survive Final Threat at CITES Plenary

14. März 2013

Five commercially valuable shark species, manta rays & freshwater sawfish listed

CITES plenary today accepted Committee recommendations to list five species of highly traded sharks under the CITES Appendices, along with those for the listing of both manta rays and one species of sawfish. Japan, backed by Gambia and India, unsuccessfully challenged the Committee decision to list the oceanic whitetip shark, while Grenada and China failed in an attempt to reopen debate on listing three hammerhead species. Colombia, Senegal, Mexico and others took the floor to defend Committee decisions to list sharks.

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Sawfish and Mantas Follow Sharks on CITES Agenda, Receive Overwhelming Support

11. März 2013

Proposals to list close relatives of sharks also advance on historic day at COP

Following on the heels of unprecedented Committee votes to control international trade in commercially valuable sharks, Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) went on to adopt proposals to list three species of closely related rays by even wider margins.

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