Sri Lanka’s waters are home to 63 shark and 42 ray species, but many are threatened by overexploitation to feed the growing demand for shark fins, meat, and liver oil.
CITES Conference results in new protection for sharks
More than a dozen new species of sharks received additional protections after the 18th Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora Conference of the Parties held this week in Geneva, Switzerland. “Previous successful listing of shark and ray species means there is building momentum for CITES to provide protections and inspire fisheries […]
IUCN adds flatsharks to critically endangered Red List
Two species of warm water flatsharks, giant guitarfish and wedgefish, are considered the world’s most threatened marine fish according to a new assessment by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The new IUCN Red List assessments classified all but one of the 16 warm-water flat shark species as ‘Critically Endangered’ with declines of […]
Conservation meeting results in added recognition for eight sharks
Eight species of sharks will be added to the conservation annex after the third annual Meeting of the Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks in Monaco. “Sharks symbolize our lack of understanding of the underwater world, which feeds on fear of the unknown. More than any other marine animal, […]