laitimes

Sharks, a frog and other species are under new protection by powerful international organizations

author:Beautiful view near Wuhan Linjiang Park

On Friday, an international wildlife treaty group approved measures to protect a range of shark species around the world.

Conservation groups hailed the conservation of dozens of species of requiem sharks, rays, hammerhead sharks and guitarfish as "historic" and vital to protecting endangered and threatened species from the shark fin trade. Requiem sharks include bulls, sandbars, and several species of reef sharks.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora has also imposed new restrictions on trade in glass frog species. Research suggests that glass frogs are growing in popularity as pets, possibly because of their resemblance to the puppet "Kermit The frog."

The group has also rejected proposals to ease the ban on trade in ivory and rhino horn.

Established in 1975, CITES is considered one of the strongest global environmental treaties, encompassing more than 180 countries

Listing shark and ray species in CITES Appendix II, which includes species that may be threatened with extinction and their analogues, unless trade is tightly controlled, would make it easier for customs and law enforcement officials to ensure legal and sustainable trade, conservation groups said.

An ocean whitetip shark glides through the water.

Sharks, a frog and other species are under new protection by powerful international organizations

It was a "huge decision" and "completely different from what has been done so far," said David Schiffman, a shark scientist and research associate at Arizona State University.

In total, protection has been added for about 365 species, including songbirds, reptiles, turtles and more than 100 species of trees.

Schiffman said the measures would never have been approved without the massive work done to keep the country and people on the same page. "Something like this takes a lot of work."

Here are the more details:

Sharks, a frog and other species are under new protection by powerful international organizations

Restrict fin trade

CITES approved four recommendations to include sharks on its Appendix II list of protected species, including all 54 species of requiem sharks, freshwater stingrays, hammerhead sharks and guitarfish. Scientists say requiem sharks are a major component of the shark fin and meat trade and one of the most threatened sharks

Some States considered that the inclusion of all species of requiem sharks constituted an abuse of the listing process.

For about 90 species of sharks found in the shark fin trade, the measure would require local fisheries to be sustainable, well-managed and certified by local authorities, Shiffman said.

Demian Chapman, senior scientist and director of the Shark Research Center at Sarasotamot Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Florida, said: "Virtually all shark and ray species in the fin trade will be subject to international trade regulations, which is very much needed because about 70% of the species in this trade are threatened with extinction. ”。

In an interview with USA Today, Chapman said: "In practice, this means that if they want to enter the international market, the countries that capture these animals will need to take regulatory measures to ensure sustainability." ”。“ If they don't, they could end up facing trade sanctions. This also opens up an established management framework that attracts resources for implementation. ”

Sharks, a frog and other species are under new protection by powerful international organizations

Shiffman said the new rules allow trade, but trade must be documented, and companies cannot export without proof that the animal comes from a well-managed local fishery

What is the condition of sharks and rays?

About one-third of vertebrates are threatened with extinction, and they are the second most endangered vertebrate on the planet, conservation groups said this week.

Speed limits in the ocean? Large ships hunt endangered whales every year.

He co-authored a study published earlier this year that showed that nearly two-thirds of shark fin species found in the Chinese and Hong Kong markets came from species considered endangered or endangered.

In other research he helped organize, 120 international scientists and more than 700 volunteers dropped cameras into the waters of 371 tropical reefs in search of reef shark species such as tiger sharks and hammerhead sharks. The study found that coastal sharks are functionally extinct in some places

No sharks were seen in the video of 69 reefs, and nearly 20 percent of the reefs were studied. The same study found that sharks appear to be more abundant in protected areas and areas where regulations have been enacted

Glass frog species win protection

According to CITES recommendations, glass frogs, with their large eyes and transparent skin, are becoming increasingly popular in international trade, mainly as exotic pets

Research suggests that the popularity of frogs in the pet industry may be due in part to comparing them to the beloved green puppet "Kermit the Frog."

The glass frog is a nocturnal arboreal frog found in tropical Central and South America. At least 158 species have been identified. About half are thought to be threatened with extinction, and about 71% of wildlife populations are in decline

They are threatened by habitat loss, climate change, invasive species and emerging infectious diseases.

Illegally traded glass frogs are often found hiding in animal shipments exported from Central America to Europe.

Sharks, a frog and other species are under new protection by powerful international organizations

According to U.S. wildlife trade data, imports of glass frogs increased by more than 6,800% between 2016 and 2020-2021

The International Animal Welfare Fund says protecting the glass frog family makes it easier for governments to manage the trade.

Including appearance

For sharks and glass frogs, these measures protect not only endangered species, but also their kind. Schiffman says this is important in situations where it's hard to distinguish.

For example, if 10 species of trees are protected and one of them is seriously threatened, an inspector may not be able to tell which tree it came from when looking at a plank. Listing all species "prioritizes those at risk of ecological extinction" and ensures that endangered species are protected, he said.

elephant

The Center for Biological Diversity said in a press release that while CITES rejected Zimbabwe's proposal to relax the ban on ivory sales, participating countries failed to reach an agreement on giving the organization maximum protection for elephants in four countries

African elephants in all but four African countries have received the highest protection, but elephants from Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe remain in Appendix II. Several other African countries have tried unsuccessfully to add elephants from these four countries to Appendix I.

Read on