A series of proposals to increase protections for multiple shark and ray species were recently published by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) ahead of the organization’s 20th meeting in November – CoP20.
The proposals include added protections for whale sharks, oceanic whitetips, wedgefish, and manta rays. Under the new proposals, whale sharks, whitetips, and manta and devil rays would be listed under CITES Appendix I – the highest level of protection for wild species.
Under Appendix 1, a species is considered threatened with extinction, and any commercial trade of the species is banned except in special, exceptional circumstances.
According to a release from the World Conservation Society (WCS), in total, over 70 sharks and rays are being proposed for additional CITES actions during the organization’s next meeting.
“Just like the iconic land mammals afforded this strictest CITES trade protection, such as tigers or gorillas, these iconic marine animals that are already on the edge of extinction must receive the same protections,” WCS Director of Shark and Ray Conservation Luke Warwick said.
WCS said listing the species under Appendix I, along with additional “zero quota” proposals for other species, would help ...
