Stronger protection for five shark species and all manta rays

Stronger protection for five shark species and all manta rays 

_{New CITES trade controls came into effect on 14 September}

_{Most comprehensive global effort seen in CITES’ 40-year history to give sharks and manta rays a better chance of surviving
in the wild through robust regulation of international trade}

Geneva, 12 September 2014 – From Sunday 14 September, international trade in specimens of five shark species and all manta ray species, including their meat, gills and fins, will need to be accompanied by permits and certificates confirming that they have been harvested sustainably and legally.

New controls adopted by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) will apply to the oceanic whitetip shark (Carcharhinus longimanus), scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini), great hammerhead shark (Sphyrna mokarran), smooth hammerhead shark (Sphyrna zygaena), porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) and manta rays (Manta spp.) as they are now included in CITES Appendix II.

Full Press Release available at: http://cites.org/eng/shark_ray_listings_come_into_effect.php