World Leaders Protect Nearly 100 Species of Sharks and Rays with Adoption of CITES Proposals
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, TORONTO, VENICE, CA (November 18, 2022) Yesterday marked a rare moment in shark and ray conservation with the adoption of three trade protections for guitarfishes, hammerheads, and requiem shark families. Requiem sharks make up the majority of the shark fin and meat trade and are therefore one of the most threatened. This victory is an enormous step forward to ending the global fin trade – one of the biggest drivers of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The final approval of the CITES protections will be made in Plenary next week and the changes would come into effect with global trade in 12 months.
This year, members of the One Ocean Worldwide Coalition, including Fins Attached, For the Oceans Foundation, the Rob Stewart Sharkwater Foundation, and United Conservationists, influenced government officials with support from scientists, nonprofits, and concerned citizens including Sir Richard Branson. This victory at the 19th Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES CoP19 in Panama) provides hope for the recovery of many endangered and threatened shark populations globally. This win also demonstrates the power people have when we work together to speak up for what is right in the world. Once trade regulations are in place, it will be key to utilize the innovative technology that exists to support enforcement that will help put an end to illegal fin fishing trade around the world.
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Fins Attached conducts research, promotes conservation and provides education for the protection of marine ecosystems. Fins Attached believes in the preservation of our world's precious resources and that through the protection of the ocean's apex predators marine ecosystem balance can be maintained for the benefit of all living things on earth. Fins Attached is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
For The Oceans Foundation is an independent and nonprofit, international non-governmental organization whose main goals are: to promote responsible fishing and the protection of every form of marine wildlife in order to help the conservation of biodiversity and wellbeing of the oceans. The vision is to lead the public awareness through education and the implementation of viable programs focused on the responsible managing of the marine resources and the conservation of all marine ecosystems, through scientific-based projects previously agreed with the coastal communities on rivers and oceans, which can be replied and/or adjusted in Latin America and the whole world.
The Rob Stewart Sharkwater Foundation (RSSF) was created to ensure that Rob’s mission to save the world’s sharks and oceans continues. Bringing together Rob’s network of initiatives, including United Conservationists, a U.S. 501(c)3, Fin Free and Shark Free, the foundation works with legislators, leading shark and ocean conservation groups around the world, as well as top scientists, researchers and educational institutions to find and promote solutions to save sharks and maintain biodiverse ocean ecosystems. Follow RSSF on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
United Conservationists, Inc. (UC) is a U.S. 501(c)(3) based in Venice, California. UC provides people the tools needed to be effective advocates for the protection of their local and global ecosystems. By complementing grassroots efforts with state-of-the-art media and planning expertise, UC ensures that every action taken to protect the environment reverberates globally.
