Scheduled to take place in Geneva, Switzerland from 12-19 July 2024, the 33rd meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Animals Committee aims to tackle the ongoing crisis of overfishing driven by international trade. As the meeting approaches, the Shark League joins other NGOs in calling on the Animals Committee to immediately agree on crucial priority actions and collaborate on key recommendations to enhance shark and ray conservation.
The Shark League emphasizes the need for better alignment between fisheries and environmental policies to effectively implement CITES listings. Accurate and timely reporting of fisheries and trade data is essential, with detailed species-level reporting being crucial for transparency and compliance. Addressing significant compliance gaps among Parties to the International Commission for Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) is also vital. Establishing concrete limits on catch and trade will help sustain shark and ray populations, ensuring their long-term survival.
Download our factsheet with detailed recommendations here.
Side Event Invitation
Delegates are invited to join the Shark League and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) at our upcoming side event, “Integrating Environmental and Fisheries Worlds to Better Conserve Sharks.” This event will take place on Thursday, 18th July, from 12:15 to 13:45 CEST at CICG, Room 4.
Speakers include Sonja Fordham, Ali Hood, and Luke Warwick, who will discuss bridging the gap between environmental and fisheries sectors to improve shark conservation.
Joint Letter on Improving Data Reporting
In a joint letter to U.S. Assistant Secretary Matthew J. Strickler, Shark League partner Shark Advocates International is joining Humane Society International and Wildlife Conservation Society in stressing the importance of including shark and ray catch locations in CITES data reporting. This change would help track trade patterns, ensure compliance with international fisheries measures, and aid in conserving highly threatened populations.
See our letter setting out the importance of improving reporting requirements to include where sharks and rays are caught. You can download and read the full letter here.