Nations Unite to Shield Over 70 Shark Species from Global Trade

More than 70 shark and ray species, including oceanic whitetip sharks, whale sharks, and manta rays, received new safeguards under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora last week. The convention, known as CITES, is a United Nations treaty that requires countries to regulate or prohibit international trade in species whose survival is threatened. The sweeping conservation measures were adopted as the treaty's 20th Conference of the Parties (COP) came to a close. The move marks a significant shift in global efforts to curb the international trade of sharks and rays, which have been driven to extinction by decades of overfishing and unsustainable harvesting. According to Luke Warwick, director of shark and ray conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), an international nonprofit dedicated to preserving animals and their habitats, the global market for sharks and rays is worth nearly $1 billion annually. "This is a major milestone in the fight to protect these incredible species," Warwick said in a statement. "Sharks and rays play a vital role in maintaining healthy marine ecosystems, and their loss would have far-reaching consequences for the ocean and human communities that depend on it." The CITES agreement requires countries to implement trade bans or restrictions on the 70 species listed, which include some of the most iconic and ecologically important sharks and rays in the world. The move is expected to have a significant impact on the global trade of these species, with many countries already announcing plans to implement new regulations. The decision to list the species was made after a lengthy review process, which involved input from governments, conservation organizations, and scientists from around the world. The listing was widely supported by conservation groups, who argued that the species were being driven to extinction by unsustainable trade practices. "This is a major victory for sharks and rays, and for the health of our oceans," said Elizabeth Hogan, a marine biologist with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). "We hope that this decision will serve as a model for other countries to follow, and that we will see a significant reduction in the trade of these species in the coming years." The listing of the species is expected to have significant economic implications for countries that rely heavily on the trade of sharks and rays. However, conservation groups argue that the long-term benefits of protecting these species far outweigh any short-term economic costs. "This is a decision that will have far-reaching consequences for the health of our oceans, and for the people who depend on them," said Warwick. "We hope that this decision will serve as a catalyst for further action to protect these incredible species, and to promote sustainable fishing practices around the world." The CITES agreement is set to come into effect in 2025, at which point countries will be required to implement trade bans or restrictions on the listed species. Conservation groups are already calling on governments to take further action to protect these species, and to promote sustainable fishing practices around the world. In the meantime, the listing of the species is expected to have a significant impact on the global trade of sharks and rays, with many countries already announcing plans to implement new regulations. The move is seen as a major victory for conservation efforts, and a significant step towards protecting the health of our oceans.