185 countries ban commercial trade in 70 shark and ray species

At a summit in Samarkand this week, representatives from 185 governments voted to dramatically restrict the international trade in some of the ocean's most vulnerable predators. The decision affects over 70 shark and ray species, marking the first time CITES—the global wildlife trade convention—has applied full commercial trade bans to widely traded sharks and rays.

The move targets species hunted relentlessly for their fins, gill plates, and liver oil. Oceanic whitetip sharks, whale sharks, and all manta and devil rays now face the strictest trade restrictions available under international law. For species like giant guitarfish and wedgefish, the ban is absolute: zero wild-caught exports allowed.

Why this matters now

Sharks and rays are in crisis. More than a third of species face extinction, and populations have been declining steadily for 50 years. The problem is biological: these animals reproduce slowly, which means overfishing hits them harder than it hits faster-breeding fish. Add habitat loss, pollution, and warming oceans, and the pressure becomes relentless.

The commercial trade amplifies that pressure. A whale shark's gill plates can be worth thousands of dollars. Shark fins command premium prices in certain markets. The liver oil from gulper sharks ends up in cosmetics. When a species is profitable, fishing pressure intensifies—and regulations become essential.

"If effectively implemented, these listings will make a meaningful contribution to the conservation of these species," said Rhett Bennett, who manages shark conservation for the Wildlife Conservation Society in the Western Indian Ocean. The key phrase is if effectively implemented. CITES rules require permits, certificates, and proof that trade meets sustainability and legality standards. But enforcement depends on individual countries following through.

The fact that all seven proposals received broad support from the 185 parties signals something important: governments are taking this seriously. "Growing concern for the status of sharks and rays" was reflected in the voting, Bennett noted. Even countries with significant fishing industries backed the restrictions.

For species newly listed in Appendix II—gulper sharks, tope sharks, smoothhound sharks, and nearly 30 houndshark species—trade continues but under stricter monitoring. Export quotas are set to zero for some, and all require permits proving the catch is sustainable and legal.

This is the kind of progress that doesn't make headlines because it's technical and gradual. No single shark is saved by a CITES listing. But when 185 governments agree to restrict the trade in 70 species, the cumulative effect is real. The commercial pressure eases. Fishing communities in some regions shift practices. National governments have legal cover to enforce stricter rules at home.

The next phase is implementation. These rules only work if customs officers check shipments, if fishing communities have alternatives to shark fishing, and if markets actually respect the restrictions. That's the harder part—the part that happens in ports and fishing villages, not in conference rooms.