Do you know what it means when we say an animal is considered endangered or critically endangered? Does this status guarantee some sort of protection for the species? And what about animals that are listed under CITES? What does that mean exactly? For anyone concerned about the future of shark populations, understanding conservation terminology is critical for a well-informed discussion.
Let’s start this article with what it means if an animal is classified as vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered. The truth is that the classification itself does not guarantee any binding steps to be taken by the governments.
But the classification is important, it monitors the numbers of populations and when a species is classified as endangered, governments and international organizations CAN work to protect it.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species is the best-known worldwide conservation status system. The official term "threatened" is a grouping of three categories:
Critically endangered: Extremely high risk of extinction in the wild
Endangered: Higher risk of extinction in the wild
Vulnerable: High risk of extinction in the wild
The definitions of the three threatened categories are based on five criteria: population reduction rate, geographic range, population size, population restrictions, and probability of extinction.
It’s important to know that if an animal is classified as THREATENED, there is still a long way until it is PROTECTED.
The Role of National vs. International Protections
National laws can be quite effective, especially when implemented and enforced locally. Many countries ban the catch and sale of threatened species within their territories, but regulation becomes harder on the high seas, beyond national borders.
CITES: A Key Tool in International Conservation
When it comes to the international level and the introduction from the high seas, one of the most known treaties and tools of regulation is CITES - the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. It is an international agreement between governments of different states. CITES has 184 parties.
It aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species. Animals and plants are listed under the three Appendices of CITES according to how threatened they are by international trade. Depending to the appendix, international trade is regulated among the states that are a part of the CITES agreement.
This means:
An animal must be included in one of the appendices of CITES so that international trade with it can be regulated by CITES rules.
CITES is regulating only international trade and introduction from the high seas – it does not primarily regulate national catches and trade within each state (but it affects both, of course)
It does not ban catching the animals that are listed in the database, even if they are considered threatened species.
The three CITES appendices are:
Appendix I - Species threatened with extinction. Trade of these species is permitted only in exceptional circumstances, for example for scientific research. No shark species are listed in this appendix, except for the sawfish – a shark-like fish belonging to the ray family.
Appendix II - Species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled. The shark species that are actually listed under CITES are listed under this appendix.
Appendix III - Species included at the request of a Party of CITES that already regulates trade in the species, and that needs the cooperation of other countries to prevent unsustainable or illegal exploitation. No sharks are listed in this appendix.
So, what shark and ray species are now listed under CITES?
Silky shark, Oceanic whitetip shark, Scalloped hammerhead, Great hammerhead, Smooth hammerhead, Thresher sharks, Basking shark, White shark, Shortfin mako shark, Longfin mako shark, Porbeagle, Whale shark, Guitarfishes, Wedgefishes and Manta, and Mobula rays.
Challenges in Enforcing CITES Regulations
It’s important to note that CITES does not grant these shark species absolute protection against international trade.
Export Permits and Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs):
Even species listed under CITES can still be traded internationally if an export permit is granted. A similar permit is required for the introduction of these species from the sea, meaning any sharks caught in the high seas must have a permit to be unloaded at ports in countries that are a part of the treaty.
To trade CITES-listed sharks, exporting countries must conduct an NDF to prove that the trade won’t harm the species’ survival. However, some countries lack the resources or political will to produce accurate assessments, and there’s no obligation for countries to share these findings publicly. As a result, endangered species, like hammerheads, may still be legally traded.
Customs Enforcement and Identification:
Enforcing CITES regulations at borders requires species-specific identification, a task made difficult when dealing with processed products like dried shark fins. Customs officers need specialized training to distinguish species, especially when fins look similar, which complicates enforcement and allows illegal products to slip through This is understandably a very difficult activity for the custom duty officers. Imagine trying to identify different shark species in hundreds of kilos of dried shark fins.
Illegal Trade:
Despite regulations, illegal trade remains a major issue. Adding species to the CITES list helps, but without proper border checks and enforcement, poachers can continue trading in species that should be protected.
Most importantly, it is essential to put as many shark species on the CITES list as possible. It is a sad fact that many shark species are already Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, as a result of unsustainable fishing mortality driven at least partly by international trade demand for their products. The more shark species are on the list, the less amount there will be of both, legal and illegal trade.
EDIT: On 25th November 2022 the CITES approved to list ALL REQUIEM SHARKS AND ALL HAMMERHEAD SHARKS under the CITES regulations. This huge step will help to reduce both legal and illegal trade with shark products.
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