CITES launches web page on sharks & manta rays

shark_ray

The CITES Secretariat has launched a section on sharks and manta rays to assist the 179 Parties (i.e. member nations) in putting in place effective measures to control international trade in the species listed this past March at CoP16 Parties have less than 10 months before they must start regulating international trade in 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.). The regulations will enter into force on September 14, 2014.

The new section can be accessed at www.cites.org/eng/prog/shark. Although currently available in English only, French and Spanish pages are in preparation.

The CITES Secretariat welcomes inputs on the content and structure of the Sharks and rays Web section, so that it can be continuously improved to better serve Parties and stakeholders.