The United States, as a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), may propose amendments to the CITES Appendices for consideration at meetings of the Conference of the Parties. The twentieth regular meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES (CoP20) is scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan, November 24-December 5, 2025.
With this notice, we are urging recommendations received from the public concerning proposed amendments to the CITES Appendices (species proposals) and proposed resolutions, decisions, and agenda items for the United States to submit for consideration at CoP20. We invite your comments and information on these potential proposals.
As a U.S. nongovernmental organization Shark Stewards will be participating CoP20 as a participant advancing the Oceanic Whitetip shark (Panama), Whale shark and Gulper Sharks (USA). In addition we will be advancing the proposal with Mexico to increase Hammerhead sharks to Appendix I: the highest level of protection for trade available.
Meeting: The meeting is scheduled to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, November 24-December 5, 2025.
Submitting Information and Comments: US FWS has received written information and comments by January 16, 2025.
- [Docket No. FWS-HQ-IA-2024-0033; FXIA16710900000-245-FF09A10000]
B. On what species proposals is the United States undecided, pending additional information and consultations?
The United States is still undecided on whether to submit CoP20 proposals for the following taxa. In most cases, USFWS has not completed consultations with relevant range countries. In other cases, they expect meetings to occur in the immediate future, at which participants will generate important recommendations, trade analyses, or biological information on the taxon in question that may be useful to the final decision making.
Sharks and Rays
42. * Oceanic whitetip shark ( Carcharhinus longimanus)—Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
43. Gulper sharks or deepwater sharks (Centrophoridae family)—Add to Appendix II
44. * Gulper shark ( Centrophorus granulosus)—Add to Appendix I
45. * Mosaic gulper shark ( Centrophorus tessellatus)—Add to Appendix I or II
46. * Little gulper shark ( Centrophorus uyato)—Add to Appendix I or II
47. * Whale shark ( Rhincodon typus)—Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
In July 2024 the US adopted the final Oceanic Whitetip Shark Recovery Plan. The plan recommends the following major actions:
- Improve knowledge and understanding of oceanic whitetip shark population status, abundance trends, and genetic structure.
- Improve knowledge and understanding of oceanic whitetip shark distribution, movement, and habitat use.
- Improve knowledge and understanding of the demographics and life history of oceanic whitetip sharks.
- Minimize fisheries bycatch and mortality of oceanic whitetip sharks by determining and addressing the frequency of capture and severity of fishing interactions in commercial, artisanal, and recreational fisheries.
- Minimize fisheries bycatch and mortality of oceanic whitetip sharks in international fisheries and trade through enhanced international coordination and collaboration with relevant international organizations, such as RFMOs.
- Determine the effects of the international shark fin trade on oceanic whitetip shark populations in all management units, and take management actions to minimize, and/or eliminate if necessary, the amount of oceanic whitetip shark fins in trade.
- Improve species-specific monitoring and reporting of oceanic whitetip sharks in commercial and artisanal fisheries by RFMOs and individual countries to provide a better understanding of the effects of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, improve estimates of catch and discards, and measure progress towards recovery.
- Minimize fishing mortality of oceanic whitetip sharks through effective development, implementation, and enforcement of international and domestic measures, such as legislation and regulations.
- Develop and implement outreach and education strategies and programs to increase public and stakeholder (including fishermen) awareness on the status and recovery needs of the oceanic whitetip shark.
Learn more about the Oceanic Whitetip Shark Recovery Plan
Learn more about oceanic whitetip shark biology, ecology, status, and threats
C. Species the United States unlikely to submit proposals for consideration at CoP20, unless we urge them to accept additional information and our support, especially for endagered hammerhead sharks.
The United States does not intend to submit proposals for the following taxa unless we receive significant additional information indicating that a proposal is warranted.
Sharks and Rays
112. * Scalloped hammerhead ( Sphyrna lewini) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
113. * Smooth hammerhead ( Sphyrna zygaena) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
114. * Silky shark ( Carcharhinus falciformis) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
115. * Basking shark ( Cetorhinus maximus) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
116. * Longfin mako ( Isurus paucus) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
117. * Shortfin mako ( Isurus oxyrinchus) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
118. * Common thresher ( Alopias vulpinus) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
119. * Pelagic thresher shark ( Alopias pelagicus) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
120. * Great White shark ( Carcharodon carcharias) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
121. * Kitefin shark ( Dalatias licha) — Add to Appendix I or III
122. * Tope ( Galeorhinus galeus) — Add to Appendix I or II
123. * Porbeagle ( Lamna nasu) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
124. * Spiny dogfish ( Squalus acanthias) — Add to Appendix I
125. * Atlantic nurse shark ( Ginglymostoma cirratum) — Add to Appendix II
126. Common smoothhound shark ( Mustelus mustelus) — Add to Appendix I
127. * Sand tiger shark ( Carcharias tauru s) — Add to Appendix I
128. * Atlantic devilray ( Mobula hypostoma) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
129. * Sicklefin devilray ( Mobula tarapacana) — Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
130. * Spotted eagle ray ( Aetobatus ocellatus) — Add to Appendix I
131. * Whitespotted eagle ray ( Aetobatus narinari) — Add to Appendix II
132. * Bullnose eagle ray ( Myliobatis freminvillii) — Add to Appendix II
133. * American cownose ray ( Rhinoptera bonasus) — Add to Appendix II
134. * Spiny butterfly ray ( Gymnura altavela) — Add to Appendix II
135. Porcupine ray ( Urogymnus asperrimus)—Add to Appendix I
136. Tiger River stingray ( Potamotrygon tigrina)—Add to Appendix I
137. Dasyatidae (stingrays from S. and SE Asia; ~68 ssp) — Add to Appendix II
138. * Winter skate ( Leucoraja ocellata) — Add to Appendix I
139. * Thorny skate ( Amblyraja radiata) — Add to Appendix I