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CITES CoP15 - Shark Proposals

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) starts on Saturday (13 - 25 March 2010) to discuss international trade regulations and sharks are up for consideration at the 15th Conference of the Parties (CoP). Project AWARE Foundation supports four proposals aimed at adding eight shark species to CITES Appendix II.

These eight shark species are: spiny dogfish, porbeagle, oceanic whitetip, scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead, smooth hammerhead, dusky and sandbar sharks.

All eight of these shark species are:

• Subject to persistent demand that drives targeted fisheries and retention of bycatch
• Traded internationally in substantial quantities
• Included in the lowest productivity category (intrinsic rate of population increase <0.14) under criteria developed by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) for CITES listing of commercially exploited aquatic species
• Inadequately managed by most countries, and
• Not subject to fishing limits under any regional fisheries management organization (RFMO).

Listing these shark species under CITES Appendix II is:

• Essential for ensuring that international trade is held to sustainable levels
• Complementary to fisheries management efforts
• Key to improving data on the nature and extent of fisheries and trade
• Supported by the CITES Secretariat, TRAFFIC and IUCN, and
• Consistent with the FAO International Plan of Action for Sharks.

The shark proposals include solid justification that the species meet the CITES criteria for listing. The proponents have agreed to delay the effect of these listings by 18 months to enable Parties to resolve related technical and administrative issues.

Notes:

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

The 15th meeting will take place in Doha (Qatar) from 13-25 March 2010. 

• What is CITES?
• The species covered by CITES are listed in three Appendices
• Download the CITES 2010 Position Paper - Shark Species

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