Fishermen – Leave Sharks & Stingrays Alone!

Thirty-seven countries, including US & Mexico propose to list ten shark & ray species under international wildlife treaty.

At least 37 countries, including the United States and Mexico, have proposed protections for ten shark and ray species under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The U.S. will join Colombia in leading an effort to secure trade measures for the oceanic whitetip shark.

In cooperation with at least five other countries and the European Union, Mexico is pursuing protections for three species of hammerheads.  Other species proposed by various CITES Parties include the porbeagle shark, both manta rays, and three freshwater stingrays.

All of these proposals target listing on CITES Appendix II, which would prompt permits to ensure international trade is legal and sustainable, as a complement to fisheries management.  CITES Parties will debate and vote on listing proposals in March 2013 in Bangkok.

"International trade is a major driver for shark fisheries around the world, and yet controls on this exploitation are woefully insufficient," said Sonja Fordham, President of Shark Advocates. "We are grateful for continued U.S. leadership in addressing international shark trade, and welcome this unprecedented number of proposals to safeguard these vulnerable species under CITES."