The 19th Conference of the Parties (COP19) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Panama City voted to limit or regulate trade in nearly 100 species of sharks and rays on November 17 and 18, 2022.
Key points
- Countries voted to include 54 species of sharks from the requiem family, six species of hammerhead sharks and 37 guitarfish (shark-like species of rays) on CITES Appendix II.
- Customs and enforcement officials can now ensure that only legal and sustainable trade takes place and meets the requirements as specified in Appendix II.
- Under Appendix II, a permit or certificate authorising international trade in specimens of species listed in it can be granted by relevant authorities.
About Rays
- Rays in the order Chondrichthyes are essentially a compressed, flattened shark.
- All rays belong to the superorder Batoidea, which includes stingrays, electric rays, skates, guitarfish, and sawfish.
- Like sharks – their close relatives – batoids have skeletons made of tough connective tissue called cartilage.
