During a conference held in Panama, the global trade of sharks has been regulated, preventing various threatened species from being killed for their fins, thus protecting the large predator’s valued place in our oceans’ ecosystem.
The decision is a “landmark in not only the number of species it covers, but in the amount of the trade that is going to be regulated,” explains Sue Lieberman, vice president of international policy for the Wildlife Conservation Society.
Prior to the vote, between 20 and 25% of shark species were protected against fishing. Now that the members of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora have voted – 88 in favor, 29 against, and 17 abstained from voting – the share of protected shark species reaches 95%. Participating countries will issue permits certifying that fins were legally obtained through sustainable fishing. Shark fins are particularly consumed in China where shark fin soup is a delicacy, and this culinary trend contributes to the demise of 36% of the world’s shark and ray species.
