By Rolynda Jonathan
Threatened species of sharks and manta rays could be saved from total extinction after being placed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) international trade regulation.
On March 14, approved 2013, visit 177 member countries voted to protect five species of sharks – the Oceanic whitetip and porbeagle sharks, ask three species of hammerhead sharks, and two species of manta rays – in an unprecedented move that increases the number of protected marine animals in the world’s ocean.
The move was applauded by a number of NGO’s working to protect shark species including PEW’s Global Shark Conservation, who released a statement saying, “This victory indicates that the global community will collaborate to address the plight of some of the most highly vulnerable sharks and manta ray species.”
There are a total of 143 shark species that are threatened with extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
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