Cites has voted today to list 1 of the 4 shark species proposed as Appendix II items.  CITES voted in favour of placing the porbeagle shark on the list while rejecting the proposal to list the hammerhead, spiny dogfish and oceanic whitetip as Appendix II animals.

CITES is an international agreement between government that monitors and restricts the trade of certain flora and fauna in order that it may not threaten a species’ survival.  They afford different degrees of protection to different species as required.

Appendix I items are those where trade of the species is forbidden under any circumstances and includes animals and plants threatened with immediate extinction. Appendix II items are those that are not threatened with imminent extinction but will be in danger if trade restrictions are not put in place.  Appendix III items are those that are in no real danger of extinction.

The porbeagle shark is in demand for its high value meat, which is particularly popular in Europe – both meat and fins are traded internationally,”says Sonja Fordham, Deputy Chair of IUCN Shark Specialist Group. “Fisheries statistics and stock assessments show marked declines or complete population collapses in all areas where the data is available.”
“All of the shark species proposed for listing at this Conference are exceptionally vulnerable to overexploitation due to life history characteristics – such as slow growth, late maturity, and small number of young – and yet are subject to few fishing restrictions,” Fordham added.

Reports indicate that Appendix II is an appropriate listing for the porbeagle shark as declining population trends have been reported throughout the Southern hemisphere.  The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species classifies the Porbeagle Shark as Vulnerable globally, Critically Endangered in the Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea, Endangered in the Northwest Atlantic and Near Threatened in the Southern Ocean.

The remaining 3 shark species are in less immediate danger, but animal conservationists hope that this is not the last they will hear on the issue.

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