We are writing with incredible news and our deepest gratitude! Because of your dedication—including signing our petition—the Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus) has been officially listed on CITES Appendix I at the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
This landmark decision is a testament to the global concern for one of the ocean’s most imperiled species, and it is a victory you helped achieve!
A Species on the Brink
The need for this protection was critical. The Oceanic Whitetip Shark, once one of the most abundant sharks in the open ocean, has suffered catastrophic population declines of 80-90% or more in just a few generations. Driven by intense, unregulated fishing pressure, primarily for its large, distinctive fins, this species was literally “freefalling toward extinction.” The next category after its critically endangered status is extinction in the wild—a risk we can no longer afford to take.
What the CITES Appendix I Listing Means
The move to CITES Appendix I provides the highest level of international protection available under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Total Ban on Commercial Trade: The Appendix I listing enacts a near-total ban on all international commercial trade in Oceanic Whitetip Sharks and all their parts and derivatives (including fins, meat, and oil).
Enforcement and Recovery: This ban closes critical loopholes that allowed illegal trade to flourish and will significantly reduce the economic incentive for illegal take. It simplifies enforcement and gives this iconic pelagic predator a meaningful chance to recover.
A Wave of Protection for Sharks and Rays at CoP20
The good news doesn’t stop there. CITES CoP20 saw an unprecedented commitment to marine conservation, with every shark and ray proposal tabled receiving adoption. This comprehensive suite of protections covers over 70 species and is a watershed moment for ocean wildlife.
In addition to the Oceanic Whitetip Shark, new protections include:
Appendix I (Full Commercial Trade Ban):
Whale Sharks
Manta and Devil Rays
Appendix II (Regulated Trade with Permits and Sustainability Findings):
Gulper Sharks (sought for liver oil)
Smooth-hound Sharks and the Tope Shark (sought for meat and fins)
Zero Export Quotas under Appendix II:
Wedgefish and Giant Guitarfish (provides the same trade ban as Appendix I for these highly-threatened species)
Let’s Finish the Fight for Sharks!
However, the reality remains stark: more than one-third of all shark and ray species are currently threatened with extinction. The momentum from the CITES CoP20 is a powerful start, but we must continue to fight on all fronts to save these essential ocean predators.
Our Next Urgent Battle: The Endangered Species Act
Strong national laws are just as vital as international agreements. That is why we urgently need your support to protect one of the most effective conservation tools we have: the U.S. Endangered Species Act (ESA).
The ESA is under constant threat from legislative attempts to weaken its protections by injecting economic factors over science or by dismantling crucial habitat safeguards. We cannot allow America’s most successful wildlife law to be undermined.
👉 Sign the Petition: Please join us and sign the Shark Stewards Change.org petition to defend the Endangered Species Act today. Your signature sends a powerful message to the USFWS and Congress to preserve this life-saving law:
Sign the Petition to Defend the Endangered Species Act
This Giving Tuesday: Amplify the Voices of Extinction
As we approach Giving Tuesday, we ask you to stand with us to continue this critical work.
Sharks are the Voices of Extinction, and your donation is what allows us to speak for them in regulatory meetings, in courtrooms, and in Congress. Every dollar funds our campaigns to:
Push for stricter national laws to end the shark fin trade.
Advocate for gear changes in fisheries to reduce deadly bycatch.
Collect the scientific data needed to designate new Marine Protected Areas.
Your support is the backbone of all our victories.
Please make a tax-deductible donation this Giving Tuesday and help us keep fighting to save sharks: Donate to Shark Stewards Today
Thank you for being a vital part of the solution.