Wildlife conference adopts landmark protections for 70+ shark and ray species

Don’t miss the full story, whose reporting from Michael Casey at The Associated Press is the basis of this AI-assisted article.

Governments at a wildlife trade conference in Uzbekistan have adopted protective measures for more than 70 species of sharks and rays amid concerns that overfishing is pushing many toward extinction.

Some key facts:

• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora approved bans on trade in oceanic whitetip sharks, manta and devil rays, and whale sharks.

• Governments enacted zero-annual export quotas for several species of guitarfishes and wedgefishes, effectively halting most legal international trade.

• More than 37% of shark and ray species are currently threatened with extinction.

• Over 100 million sharks are killed every year, primarily for their fins, meat, oil, and gills.

• The measures strengthen regulations for gulper sharks, smoothhound sharks, and the tope shark, requiring proof that sources are legal, sustainable, and traceable.

• At the previous conference in Panama in 2022, governments increased protections for more than 90 shark species.

• Governments rejected efforts to weaken trade regulations for elephants and rhinos at this year’s conference.

• The international wildlife trade treaty was originally adopted in 1975 in Washington and has helped stem illegal trade in ivory, rhino horns, whales and sea turtles.

READ MORE: Governments endorse greater protections for sharks amid concerns about overfishing