NEW YORK, NY (July 3, 2025) – A new global study led by Florida International University (FIU), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and partners reveals strong conservation progress in implementing international trade protections for sharks and rays under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and identifies areas in need of improvement to safeguard a future for the most threatened shark and ray species. 

The new study, in Marine Policy, finds that CITES shark and ray listings have driven improved global shark and ray management at a rate and scale that was previously lacking, particularly in biodiverse regions such as the global tropics. Almost half (48 percent) of CITES Parties have made regulatory reforms to implement the listings domestically—ranging from complete prohibitions on harvest and trade of all shark and rays species, to species-specific national protections, to more nuanced controls such as science-based quotas. 

Nevertheless, challenges remain. Mobula rays, which were listed on CITES Appendix II in 2016, continue to be widely traded for their gill plates, often unsustainably. The study found that many countries exporting Mobula products still lack the necessary science-based assessments required under CITES, raising concerns about sustainability. And while whale sharks—the world’s largest fish—have stronger protections due to early listings and their iconic status, there are still gaps in monitoring the live trade and capture for aquariums in some countries.

The study comes at a critical moment for ocean conservation, with sharks and rays among the most threatened groups of vertebrates on the planet due to overfishing, illegal take, and poorly regulated trade. The oceanic whitetip shark is one of the most protected shark species globally and nationally regulated in more than 31 countries around the world. But the species' high value fins are still being traded illegally and at unsustainable levels. The oceanic whitetip, whale shark and mobulid rays have all been proposed for greater protection via CITES Appendix I listings at the upcoming CITES CoP20, in November 2025.

“The good news is, we know what next steps we need to take now,” said Luke Warwick, Director of Shark and Ray Conservation at WCS. “This study demonstrates that CITES shark and ray listings have created genuine momentum, and with the right support, we can ensure that these international rules result in the measures we need at a national level to properly protect some of the ocean’s most iconic and imperiled species.”

“This study shows the powerful impact CITES listings can have to drive better national level conservation action,” said Dr. Mark Bond, lead author and Research Assistant Professor at FIU’s Institute of the Environment. “However, there is far more to be done and CITES shark and ray listings will only prevent extinctions if countries take responsibility and prioritize improved fisheries management regulations, compliance, and enforcement, in concert with robust monitoring, and address the gaps identified in this study. Sharks and rays do not respect political boundaries so global efforts and regional cooperation at the scale that CITES can deliver is critical to their survival.”

“These findings come amid growing concern that trade continues to drive many of the world’s ancient ocean predators toward extinction,” added Lee Crockett, the Executive Director of the Shark Conservation Fund. “Recent science shows that 37 percent of all shark and ray species are threatened, a figure that climbs to over 70 percent for species commonly found in international trade. With pelagic shark populations down more than 70 percent over the past half-century, and reef sharks functionally extinct on one in five coral reefs surveyed, a tipping point is near.”

To assess global progress, the researchers analyzed national implementation across 183 CITES Parties, evaluating how each country is applying CITES rules for sharks and rays. The results revealed a wide implementation gap. Data showed that Indonesia, one of the largest exporters of shark products, has made strong investments in species identification tools and regulatory frameworks. Mozambique has also emerged as a leader, implementing national legislation, improving enforcement capacity, and taking tangible steps to reduce illegal trade. 

Similarly, Gabon has shown strong political will and legal reforms, aligning national laws with CITES obligations and enhancing monitoring efforts. In contrast, several countries—including Mexico, Mauritania, Namibia, Oman, and Trinidad and Tobago—are shown to face persistent challenges in enforcement and traceability, despite having formal CITES commitments in place.

The findings also point to critical next steps: scaling up species identification tools at ports, increasing training for customs officers, improving data collection on trade volumes and sources, and fostering cross-border collaboration among fisheries and wildlife agencies. As over 90 percent of the shark fin trade and all gill plate trade are now regulated under CITES, experts emphasize that governments must not only enforce existing listings, but also expand controls to cover overlooked products such as shark oil and meat.

This work was generously supported by the Shark Conservation Fund and Florida International University. It builds on years of collaboration between WCS, government agencies, academic institutions, and NGOs working to strengthen marine wildlife trade governance.

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