Victory! More Than 70 Shark & Ray Species Granted Landmark Global Protections Under CITES

In a historic breakthrough for marine conservation, more than 70 species of sharks and rays have been granted stronger international protections under CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Conservationists are calling it one of the most significant victories for ocean wildlife in years.

Whale sharks, along with all manta and devil rays, have now been uplisted to Appendix I, the highest level of protection, effectively banning all commercial international trade of these vulnerable species and their products. This follows last week’s critical decision to also grant Appendix I protections to the rapidly vanishing Oceanic whitetip shark.

The move comes at a crucial moment. Sharks are essential apex predators who keep marine food webs balanced and healthy. When shark populations collapse, entire ecosystems unravel, affecting everything from coral reef health to fish populations. Protecting them is not optional; it’s vital for the future of our oceans.

“Today marks an unprecedented and historic victory for sharks and rays at CITES. What began as an Appendix II listing victory for manta rays at the conference of parties in Bangkok in 2013, has now culminated in complete international commercial trade bans in manta and devil rays, whale sharks, and oceanic whitetip sharks, the strongest and most comprehensive global protections ever afforded to these species,” Shawn Heinrichs, Emmy Award—Winning Cinematographer and Founder of OnlyOne, told WAN.

“These wins could not have come at a more critical time, when manta and devil rays have declined by up to 99% in some regions, when global whale shark populations have fallen by more than 50%, and oceanic whitetip shark populations have plummeted by 80-90%,” continued Heinrichs. “We are so grateful for the countries that voted to support these proposals, and to the international community who rallied these voices in resounding support.”

Last week’s decisions also established a zero-export quota for several guitarfish and wedgefish species, many of which are already critically endangered. This effectively shuts down nearly all legal international trade.

Tope and smooth-hound sharks, commonly sold globally as “flake” in fish and chips, received CITES protections for the first time and were listed under Appendix II. Trade can now only occur if it is proven sustainable. Deepwater gulper sharks, heavily hunted for liver oil used in cosmetics, were also added to Appendix II. With three-quarters of gulper shark species threatened with extinction and populations declining by up to 80% in some regions, this protection is long overdue.

“For too long, sharks that have roamed our oceans for millions of years have been slaughtered for their fins and meat. People may fear sharks, but the truth is we pose a far greater threat to them—with more than 100 million killed every year. These new protections will help shift that balance and recognize and honor these sharks as more than just fishery commodities,” said Barbara Slee, Senior Program Manager at International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), while celebrating the decision.

“Around the world, sharks and rays are disappearing fast. Their loss would unravel the very ecosystems that keep our oceans healthy. This decision marks a vital step toward reversing that decline and preventing extinctions that once felt inevitable,” continued Slee.

These decisions were made at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20), which opened November 24th in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and runs through December 5th. All listings will take effect 90 days after they are endorsed at the final plenary session.

This sweeping wave of protections brings renewed hope for shark and ray species pushed to the brink and marks a powerful shift toward safeguarding the ocean ecosystems vital to our planet’s survival.