Three endangered shark species get protection

Global conference agrees to regulate trade in three sharks prized for their fins. Nations decide oceanic whitetip, hammerhead, and porbeagle sharks are more valuable alive than dead.

Conservationists at a global wildlife conference on Monday voted to regulate the trade of shark species that have been threatened because their fins are used to make expensive delicacies in Asia.

Delegates at the triennial meeting in Bangkok of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna adopted the proposals to put the oceanic whitetip, hammerhead and porbeagle sharks on a list of species whose trade is closely controlled.

More than two dozen species of shark are officially endangered, and more than 100 others considered either vulnerable or near threatened. Like manta rays, sharks are seen as valuable to nations with dive tourism industries, with island territories such as the Bahamas, Fiji and the Maldives deriving major benefits. Eleven nations, including Brazil, the U.S. and Egypt, proposed regulating trade in the species.

The oceanic whitetip proposal passed in a secret ballot with 92 votes in favor, 42 against and 8 abstentions, while the hammerhead proposal passed with 91 votes in favor and 39 against. The porbeagle proposal was adopted with 93 votes in favor, 39 against and 8 abstentions.

Sonja Fordham, the founder of U.S.-based Shark Advocates International, said in a statement she was pleased with the votes. "These highly traded, threatened shark species urgently need protection from the unsustainable trade that jeopardizes populations, ecosystems, livelihoods, and ecotourism."

Rebecca Regnery, Wildlife Humane Society International deputy director, said the proposal adoptions were "the only way to truly give some of the most heavily traded species a respite from the commercial onslaught."

Supporters said the species' numbers have declined due to overfishing and being accidentally caught by fishermen chasing other types of fish.

Japan and China were among the proposals' opponents. They argued that shark population control should be handled by regional fisheries management organizations.

Threats against oceanic whitetip and hammerhead sharks are driven by demand for their fins, while porbeagle sharks are targeted primarily for their meat in Europe.

The non-profit Pew Environment Group said Hong Kong is the world's biggest shark fin market, with 83 countries exporting more than 10.3 million kilograms (22.7 million pounds) of shark fin product there in 2011.

CITES meets every three years to discuss how to best regulate trade in plants and animals to ensure the survival of more than 35,000 species. CITES delegates represent 178 governments, as well as businesses, non-governmental organizations and groups speaking for indigenous peoples.