Ancient sharks face modern extinction crisis, but new trade protections show promise

Sharks, ancient mariners that have roamed Earth’s oceans for over 400 million years—predating both dinosaurs and trees—now face their greatest challenge yet. According to the IUCN Red List, approximately one-third of all shark species are currently threatened with extinction, primarily due to unsustainable overfishing driven by the lucrative international shark fin trade.

However, recent conservation efforts through CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) are showing encouraging results. Over the past several years, many shark species commonly targeted for their fins have been added to CITES Appendix II, which permits international trade only when it’s carefully monitored, limited, and proven sustainable. This regulatory approach has sparked significant global action, according to research published earlier this year.

The impact has been substantial: nearly half of all CITES member nations have implemented meaningful reforms to their fisheries management regulations, while about 25% have strengthened monitoring and enforcement of existing protections. Perhaps most significantly, countries that previously had no shark conservation measures whatsoever have introduced comprehensive management policies for the first time.

These developments offer hope for species that have survived multiple mass extinctions throughout Earth’s history. By leveraging international trade agreements to drive conservation action, the global community is taking concrete steps to ensure these apex predators continue their ancient journey through our oceans. The success demonstrates that when nations work together through established frameworks like CITES, meaningful wildlife protection can become reality—even for species caught in complex international trade networks.