Shark Protection and CITES

While CITES has helped to save a myriad of terrestrial species, the effort to add sharks and marine fish to the CITES is still relatively new ground and has resulted in difficult battles. Although the tide is turning, and basking, whale and great white sharks were added in the last decade, there is still often vigorous opposition to the listing of commercially valuable fish under CITES.

At the last CITES meeting in 2010, eight worthy and more heavily fished shark species were denied listing. But Project AWARE, together with partner organizations and shark advocates around the world, are committed to ensuring progress for sharks at the next Conference of the CITES Parties in March 2013.

We’re setting our sights on CITES 2013 in Thailand with plans to secure listing for some of the shark species most deserving of CITES protections: hammerheads,oceanic whitetip, spiny dogfish and porbeagle sharks. We’re also aiming for consideration of sharks’ close relatives such as the heavily traded manta and devil rays.

Your diver voice helps to:

1. Encourage the U.S., European Union and Australia to continue championship of CITES shark attention by developing and coordinating sound listing proposals for the most deserving species.

1. Achieve the two-thirds majority support needed for CITES success. Together, we’re reaching out and demonstrating solid arguments for change with unconvinced CITES delegates – including diving-based economic benefits of living sharks and eco-tourism.