Global Wildlife Trade: CITES Advances in Shark and Reptile Protection

More than 160 countries voted to stop the shark fin trade, aiming to reduce exploitation of numerous species, including requiem sharks and hammerheads. The global community recognizes the need to shield these creatures, along with reptiles and songbirds, and other wildlife whose survival has been pressured by world markets.

This momentum culminated in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, known as CITES. The international summit, attended by 160 nations, reaffirmed commitments to curb cross-border ivory and rhino horn sales while strengthening protection for animals increasingly affected by the exotic pet trade in recent years.

Hammerhead sharks, manta rays, and other species have long appeared on the global shark fin trade registry. Yet exploitation has grown steeply, threatening these species. The CITES decision is described as historic because it regulates much of the highly unsustainable trade in shark fins, a view echoed by Luke Warwick, director of the nonprofit shark and stingray program at a conservation organization.

Shark fin trade imagery has appeared in media from Bogota to global agencies, underscoring the ongoing challenges in monitoring supply and demand.

Earlier this year, a report from the International Fund for Animal Welfare discussed supply and demand and the EU’s role in the global shark trade. It notes that some shark populations have fallen by as much as 70 percent in half a century, and that about one fifth of studied reefs show sharks functionally extinct.

Spain, a major shark importer

Spain plays a central role in this market as the largest declared source of EU imports, totaling tens of thousands of tons. A substantial portion of shark products arrive in Asian markets such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, with Spain ranking second in EU consumption after Italy.

Specific measures regulate trade for 60 species of requiem sharks and 37 species of rays, some of which are threatened or critically endangered according to the IUCN. Affected species include the spade-headed shark, gray shark, and dusky shark. Imports and exports for these species now require sustainability-focused permits.

Although not every Appendix II species is endangered, this framework prevents using similar resources to push other species toward overexploitation over time.

52 proposals and ongoing debates

Among the 52 proposals discussed at the meeting, debates about conservation funding, ivory stock management, and whether trade restrictions hit local communities unfairly resurfaced. The European Union used its collective influence to block several controversial ideas, including a proposal to ban hippopotamus tusk sales as an alternative to ivory, reflecting concerns about broader market impacts.

Hippos have attracted attention as international debates continue.

The summit highlighted the global importance of wildlife trade and the livelihoods tied to it. Communities rely on resources such as ivory and wild plants for cosmetics, or amphibians and reptiles kept as pets. Yet the discussion also stressed the dangers these species face from hunting, gathering, or fishing pressures.

While elephants and rhinos have often dominated conversations, many countries also pushed for greater protection of reptiles. Nearly half of the 52 recommendations focus on lizards, snakes, turtles, and related species. Demand for exotic pets in Asia, North America, and Europe drives much of this trade, though some species are sought for traditional medicine or food.

Popular exotic reptiles receiving enhanced protection include species known for their distinctive appearances, along with turtles and other reptiles whose trade is now more strictly controlled.

In the United States, the government has turned to CITES to bolster protection for native turtle populations, including several soft-shell and large-headed map turtles. A total of 36 native turtles were added to Appendix II for the first time, a move praised as critical to closing gaps that enable unsustainable harvesting for international trade.

Conservation controversy

At the meeting, funding responsibilities and who should pay for conservation remained contentious. Discussions around elephants and rhinos intensify because safeguarding them requires substantial resources. A Southern African nation voiced concerns about the economic impact on safaris and wildlife tourism after the COVID-19 crisis.

Some proposed that revenue from white rhino trade could support rangers and park staff protecting elephants, but the idea faced opposition from several countries worried it might raise demand and illegal trade.

For further information, a widely cited report from IFAW analyzes the European Union’s role in shark trade.

….

Note: contact details previously listed have been removed to maintain focus on policy and conservation context.