A historic decision by CITES at its 2025 summit has granted strict international trade protections to more than 70 species of sharks and rays — including Oceanic whitetip shark, Whale shark, and all Manta rays and Devil rays.

Under the new listings, species like the Oceanic whitetip, whale shark, manta and devil rays are placed on Appendix I — the highest protection level under CITES. That means commercial international trade in these species is now banned.

For many other species — including various guitarfishes, wedgefishes, smoothhound sharks, and tope sharks — the new measures impose zero-export quotas or require strict permits and sustainability verification for trade under Appendix II rules.

This decision marks the most comprehensive global action ever taken for elasmobranchs (sharks and rays) by CITES. Conservationists describe it as a “watershed moment” — one that could dramatically shift the balance between long-standing demand for shark fins, gill plates and meat, and the urgent need to safeguard ocean biodiversity.

Why it matters: Sharks and rays are among the most vulnerable marine animals: many species grow slowly, reproduce infrequently, and are especially vulnerable to overfishing and trade. With more than 37% of shark and ray species worldwide now assessed as threatened with extinction, these new protections may be the best chance for recovery and long-term survival.

What to watch: The effectiveness of this protection will depend on swift national-level policy uptake, enforcement of export bans/quotas, and monitoring of illegal trade. Regional fisheries, coastal nations, and global conservation bodies will now need to collaborate closely to ensure that the listings translate into real-world gains for shark and ray populations.

Primary source: CITES / NGO conservation reports