The Daily Matter | It's hammer time: video of hammerhead sharks, manta rays and other species protected under CITES
One small step for mankind, and a great big one for the world's oceans this week in Bangkok. The Daily Matter brings you a look at some of the creatures now under protection, and a quick primer on CITES so you can navigate the tricky world of the international wildlife trade.
It was a big week for marine conservationists worldwide, with most of the 178 countries and territories at the CITES Cop16 in Bangkok agreeing to add several species of sharks and rays to the list of species protected by the international treaty.
Porbeagles, oceanic whitetips, manta rays and several species of hammerhead sharks are now listed on Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna, effectively banning international trade unless shipments are accompanied by documentation showing they were caught legally.
More than two dozen species of shark are officially endangered, and over 100 considered vulnerable or near threatened. Sharks, like manta rays, are considered valuable by countries with dive tourism industries, with places such as Fiji, the Maldives and the Bahamas seeing major benefits. Eleven countries, including the US, Brazil and Egypt, proposed regulating trade in the species.
All countries have 18 months to comply with the decision.