New Laws Protecting Five Species Of Shark Now In Effect

If you are a shark lover then there is some good news. Beginning September 14th, new international laws came into effect that added to protection for five different species of shark that have been threatened by overfishing. Special permits are now required to export live sharks as well as fins, gills and meat of these five species as well as all species of manta ray.

The new regulations were adopted last year at a meeting in Bangkok of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, also known as CITES.

“Now, the international community is paying more attention to the ocean, and the health of marine species like sharks is a good indicator of the health of this big marine ecosystem,” Juan Carlos Vasquez, a legal expert with CITES, said.

The species that are being protected include the white-tip shark, scalloped hammerhead shark, great hammerhead shark, smooth hammerhead shark, porbeagle shark and all manta rays. All of these species are protected under the CITES treaty which is designed to regulate international trade in plants and animals that may become threatened by extinction.

Sharks are hunted for their meat, cartilage, liver oil and their fins. Fins are the principal ingredient in shark fin soup which is consumed as a delicacy in parts of East Asia. Sharks tend to grow and reproduce rather slowly which means if there are big losses in population, it can be difficult for numbers to recover. Overfishing could also produce big declines in the numbers of apex predators.

According to a study published in the scientific journal Marine Policy, it is estimated that 100 million sharks were killed in 2000 and a similar number in 2010. Mr. Vasquez says the new laws means that it will become easier for authorities to identify the bad actors in the business. He added that authorities will need to remain vigilant because fisherman may simply switch to hunting other species in other areas.

In unveiling the new regulations, CITES says it is working with both customs agencies and national authorities who will be on the lookout for illegal shark parts. 178 countries have signed up to The CITES treaty and a meeting is held every two or three years.