SEAFOOD SOURCE • July 2, 2025
Proposals to increase protections for multiple shark and ray species were recently published by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) ahead of the organization’s 20th meeting in November – CoP20. The proposals include added protections for whale sharks, oceanic whitetips, wedgefish, and manta rays. Under the new proposals, whale sharks, whitetips, and manta and devil rays would be listed under CITES Appendix I – the highest level of protection for wild species. ~ Chris Chase, Portland, Maine-based executive editor of SeafoodSource