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Oceanic whitetip sharks have been granted the highest level of protection under CITES after Parties at the Convention’s 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) in Samarkand voted to move the species to Appendix I.
The decision, which bans all international trade in products derived from oceanic whitetips, is being hailed as a landmark moment for shark conservation.
Once among the most abundant pelagic predators, oceanic whitetips have suffered catastrophic declines of more than 80–90 per cent in just three generations.
Much of this collapse has been driven by intense fishing pressure and demand for their large, distinctive fins – a trade that researchers say is significantly under-reported by official figures.
Luke Warwick, Director of Shark & Ray Conservation at the Wildlife Conservation Society, described the vote as ‘a watershed moment’ and the first time a shark species has received the full suite of protections available under the Convention.
‘Countries have sent a clear message that iconic ocean species deserve the same urgency as wildlife on land,’ he said.
Panama led the proposal, with strong support from 13 other nations – including New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Oman, Pakistan, the Bahamas, Gabon, Djibouti, Canada, Chile and Fiji – all of whom spoke in favour of the upgrade during the plenary session.
Speaking for the Bahamas, Dr Lester Gittens reminded delegates that the species supports livelihoods across the archipelago. ‘We cannot allow ourselves to become numb to the term critically endangered – the next category is extinct in the wild,’ he said. ‘We cannot take that risk.’
By shutting down trade in oceanic whitetip products, the Appendix I listing will reduce incentives for illegal take and provide a meaningful chance for the species to recover.
More than 3,000 delegates from 185 countries have gathered in Uzbekistan for CoP20 as governments debate measures aimed at preventing international trade from driving the world’s most vulnerable species toward extinction.
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