The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora marked its 40th birthday with a focus on sharks, announcing the release of two publications.
30 June 2015: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora marked its 40th birthday with a focus on sharks, announcing the release of two publications.
The CITES Secretariat launched a booklet on ‘Implementing CITES Listings of Sharks and Manta Rays 2013-2016,’ which provides an overview of the work undertaken so far, as well as plans for the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP) to CITES in 2016.
CITES has also released a publication that assesses the capacity of selected countries within Africa, Asia and Latin America to implement CITES listings of sharks and manta rays.
In a press release, the CITES Secretariat notes the irony that it entered into force in 1975, a few days after the release of the movie ‘Jaws,’ which contributed to public misunderstanding of the role and behavior of sharks. CITES has since brought eight species of sharks under its auspices, to ensure that any international trade in these species is legal, sustainable and traceable. [CITES Press Release] [Publication: Implementing CITES Listings of Sharks and Manta Rays 2013-2016] [Publication: Assessment of the Capacity of Selected Countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America to Implement the New CITES Listings of Sharks and Manta Rays]