Sharks and Rays Receive Landmark Global Trade Protections

Efforts by Shark Conservation Fund (SCF) grantees, supported by The Moore Charitable Foundation, have helped to secure an historic outcome at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), where more than 70 shark and ray species received new international trade protections. For the first time, several commercially traded shark species, including oceanic whitetip sharks, were granted full global commercial trade bans, with many additional species strengthened under Appendix II.

This milestone stems from years of SCF- and partner-driven efforts to elevate sharks and rays within global policy, proving that meaningful trade protections are possible and reaffirming CITES as a critical tool for shark recovery.