Eight sharks and ray species to be protected by international convention on endangered species

Eight shark and ray species are now protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species as of 14th September 2014. The listed products coming in and out of the EU will now have to be accompanied by export or import permits issued by EU countries.

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The eight species – porbeagle, oceanic whitetip shark, scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead shark, smooth hammerhead shark and manta rays – were earmarked for protection in March 2013 and join three shark species – basking shark, great white shark, whale shark – on the CITES list.Imports into the EU of CITES-listed sharks or ray products must be accompanied both by an import permit issued by the authorities of the country of import and an export permit issued by the CITES authorities of the exporting country.

 The export from the EU of CITES-listed sharks or ray products requires that each shipment is accompanied by an export permit issued by the Member State authority of the country of export. Specimens caught on the high seas and landed in the same state to which the vessel is flagged, an “introduction from the sea” certificate will have to be issued instead of an export permit.

 More information can be found by clicking here.

Source DG MARE, European Commission