All of these proposals will be decided on at CITES CoP20 in Uzbekistan, 24 November - 5 December 2025- where stronger CITES action offers a last chance to ensure iconic species such as manta rays and whale sharks thrive in the world’s oceans for generations to come

Smoothounds are prized for their meat in dishes from fish and chips in Australia to Ceviche in Latin America, with several species in the family already Endangered- this family, that is the core of the global shark meat trade clearly needs CITES sustainability oversight

Gulper sharks are traded for their high-value liver oil used in luxury cosmetics, these deepwater species have already suffered declines of over 80% in some regions. With slow reproduction and no trade controls, the CITES Appendix II listing is urgently needed to prevent further overexploitation.

CITES Parties are also looking at other trade threats via AppII proposals that cover large parts of the trade in shark oil and meat trade limiting trade to sustainable levels. The proposals would bring regulation of the shark fin trade under CITES to over 96% of species in trade.

Additional proposals look to protect Wedgefish & Giant Guitarfish-the most threatened families of sharks and rays, with fins commanding the highest price in global shark fin markets. A proposed zero quota will apply a commercial trade ban similar to an App I listing

A new study released today from Hong Kong shows wedgefish, oceanic whitetip and whale shark fins continue to pour into this global trade hub illegally from all over the world – this stronger action from CITES is needed now: www.bloomassociation.org/en/wp-conten...

Headline proposals are to move Whale and Oceanic Whitetip sharks, and all Manta & Devil Rays on CITES Appendix I - CITES strongest step that will ban all commercial trade in these iconic marine wildlife species -A bold attempt to curb their freefall toward extinction @ #CITESCoP20

BREAKING: Governments act on the shark and ray extinction crisis by proposing increased protections for 70+ species of shark and ray via CITES listings at upcoming CoP20. 7 listing proposals, the most for sharks ever considered at a CITES meeting + more than 50 governments adding their names.

Compliance action was established for Sri Lanka, who are now indefinitely prohibited from any trade in Endangered manta and mobula rays, a significant step as they are the world’s largest catcher and exporter for these species.

Compliance action was maintained and refined for Ecuador, with trade bans remaining in place for silky sharks, and all thresher and mako species. The trade bans will remain in place until Ecuador provide information on how any catch or bycatch of these threatened species is sustainable.

Investigations will begin into potential illegal trade in Critically Endangered oceanic whitetip sharks from nations fishing on the high seas. This process will gather additional information from Indonesia, The Seychelles, Kenya, Oman, Yemen and Senegal.

Proposals to list the whale shark (led by The Maldives), the oceanic whitetip shark (led by Panama) and all manta and mobulid rays (led by Ecuador) on CITES Appendix I (a global commercial trade ban) were launched- decisions on these proposals will be made at the CITES CoP this November.

This week was the 78th Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) Standing Committee meeting – and a wide range of important shark conservation issues were on the agenda - Quick thread of key steps made in Geneva:

This week in the Seychelles @thewcs.bsky.social helped organize + facilitate a workshop for multiple Government depts, researchers + NGO's. The key aim - to identify the steps needed for the Seychelles to implement its international shark+ray conservation obligations under CITES, CMS and RFMO's:

Hey - I am Luke and I spend my time saving sharks and rays. Want to find out how? Check out the Wildlife Conservation Society's global shark & ray conservation program here: www.wcs.org/our-work/wil...