Governments endorse greater protections for sharks amid concerns about overfishing – NBC 6 South Florida

Report on CITES Conference Outcomes and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Advancing SDG 14: Life Below Water through Enhanced Marine Species Protection

In a significant move to advance Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), member governments at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) conference in Uzbekistan have adopted enhanced protections for over 70 species of sharks and rays. This action directly addresses SDG Target 14.4, which calls for an end to overfishing and the implementation of science-based management plans to restore fish stocks. The measures were enacted in response to data indicating that over 37% of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction due to unsustainable fishing practices.

The newly approved regulations are designed to conserve marine biodiversity and manage marine resources sustainably. Key outcomes include:

• Trade Prohibitions: A ban on the international trade of oceanic whitetip sharks, manta and devil rays, and whale sharks.
• Strengthened Trade Regulations: The trade of gulper sharks, smoothhound sharks, and the tope shark is now subject to stricter controls, requiring proof that all sources are legal, sustainable, and traceable. This aligns with SDG Target 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by promoting sustainable supply chains.
• Export Quotas: Zero-annual export quotas have been established for several species of guitarfishes and wedgefishes, effectively halting most legal international trade.

Global Partnership and Sustainable Trade: A Commitment to SDG 17 and SDG 12

The conference demonstrated a powerful commitment to SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), with nations from Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, and Asia collaborating to champion the new protections. This global partnership is essential for the effective implementation of international conservation law, a key component of SDG Target 14.c. The success builds upon previous efforts, indicating a sustained international focus on marine conservation.

1. 2022 CITES Conference (Panama): Governments increased protections for over 90 shark species, including 54 species of requiem sharks and 37 species of guitarfish, many of which had no prior trade protection.
2. Current CITES Conference (Uzbekistan): The adoption of protections for an additional 70+ species reinforces the global commitment to halting the biodiversity loss threatening marine ecosystems.

Conservation organizations, including the Wildlife Conservation Society and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, highlighted the necessity of these measures to counter the billion-dollar, unsustainable trade in shark fins, meat, oil, and gills, thereby shifting the perception of these species from mere fishery commodities to vital components of ocean health.

Broader Conservation Efforts and Contributions to SDG 15: Life on Land

The CITES conference also addressed threats to terrestrial species, contributing to SDG 15 (Life on Land), particularly Target 15.7, which aims to end poaching and trafficking of protected species.

• Governments rejected proposals that would have weakened trade regulations for elephants and rhinos, reaffirming their commitment to combating the illegal wildlife trade.
• Regulations on the trade of saiga horn from Kazakhstan were relaxed following a successful conservation effort that led to the species’ reclassification from “critically endangered” to “near threatened” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This decision reflects a data-driven approach to sustainable management.

Challenges in Implementing Global Conservation Goals

Despite these successes, the report acknowledges challenges in fully realizing the SDGs. The CITES treaty’s effectiveness relies heavily on the capacity of member states, particularly cash-strapped developing countries, to combat a highly lucrative illegal trade market valued at over $10 billion annually. This underscores the need for enhanced international cooperation and financial support, as called for in SDG 17, to ensure that regulatory frameworks translate into effective on-the-ground enforcement and long-term conservation success.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 14: Life Below Water
   • The article’s primary focus is on the conservation of marine species, specifically sharks and rays. It discusses measures taken at the CITES conference to protect over 70 species from overfishing and unsustainable trade, which directly aligns with the goal of conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
2. SDG 15: Life on Land
   • The article also addresses the protection of terrestrial animals. It mentions the rejection of efforts to weaken trade regulations for elephants and rhinos and discusses the conservation status of the saiga antelope. These points connect to the goal of protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and halting biodiversity loss.
3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
   • The article highlights the need for sustainable trade practices. The new regulations for certain shark species mandate that trade must have “proof the sources are legal, sustainable and traceable.” This directly relates to ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns by managing natural resources efficiently and reducing waste.
4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The entire context of the article is the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), a global conference where governments collaborate. The article mentions countries from Latin America, Africa, the Pacific, and Asia coming together to pass protections. This exemplifies the global partnership required to achieve sustainable development goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
   • Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices…” The article directly addresses this by describing new measures to ban or strengthen regulations on the trade of various shark and ray species due to concerns about overfishing driving them to extinction.
2. Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
   • Target 15.7: “Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.” The article discusses the CITES treaty’s role in stemming illegal trade in ivory and rhino horns and the new protections for sharks, which are slaughtered for fins and meat.
   • Target 15.5: “Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.” The protection of over 70 species of sharks and rays, and the successful reclassification of the saiga antelope from “critically endangered” due to conservation efforts, are direct actions towards this target.
3. Under SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production):
   • Target 12.2: “By 2030, achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources.” The requirement for traded shark species to come from sources that are “legal, sustainable and traceable” is a clear implementation of this target, aiming to manage a natural resource (shark populations) sustainably.
4. Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
   • Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…” The CITES conference itself, involving governments from across the globe and organizations like the Wildlife Conservation Society and the International Fund for Animal Welfare, is a direct manifestation of this target in action.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicators for SDG 14 & 15 Targets:
   • Proportion of species threatened with extinction: The article states that “more than 37% of shark and ray species are threatened with extinction.” This serves as a baseline indicator to measure the success of conservation efforts over time. A decrease in this percentage would indicate progress.
   • Conservation status of species: The reclassification of the saiga antelope from “critically endangered to near threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)” is a specific, measurable indicator of successful conservation action (Target 15.5).
   • Number of species with protected status: The article mentions the adoption of “greater protections for over 70 species of sharks and rays” and protections for “more than 90 shark species” at a previous conference. The number of species covered by international trade regulations is a clear indicator of policy action.
2. Indicators for SDG 12 & 15 Targets:
   • Implementation of trade regulations: The establishment of “zero-annual export quotas” for guitarfishes and wedgefishes is a specific, measurable policy indicator. Similarly, the requirement for trade to be “legal, sustainable and traceable” is an indicator of progress towards sustainable management (Target 12.2).
   • Value of illegal trade: The article mentions that the illegal wildlife trade is a “$10 billion-a-year business.” Tracking this value over time can serve as an indicator of the scale of the problem and the effectiveness of measures to combat it (Target 15.7).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: nbcmiami.com