Luke Warwick

LISTEN: Despite over a decade of protections, a widespread illegal trade in shark and rays persists.

This underscores the importance of the upcoming #CITESCOP20 meeting, where governments have the opportunity to take stronger action.

🌏 🔊 apple.co/4nShUmo

New Study Reveals Persistent Illegal Trade in Protected Sharks, Calls to Strengthen World’s Wildlife-Trade Treaty to Prevent Extinctions New York, NY (November 5, 2025) –  A new study published today in Science Advances reveals widespread non-compliance with international trade protections for endangered sharks, showing that global wil...

Despite over a decade of international protections, a widespread illegal trade in CITES-listed sharks remains, a new WCS co-authored study reveals.

Upcoming #CITESCoP20 is an opportunity to address.

🌎 newsroom.wcs.org/News-Release...

Upcoming #CITESCoP20 meeting matters for the conservation of sharks and rays. Listings from past events were proven difference makers, say WCS's @lukedavid301.bsky.social and Dana Tricarico. www.wcs.org/cites-cop20 🌏

If shark and ray protections pass at the upcoming #CITESCOP20, our work will be just beginning.

Next step: helping countries implement these trade restrictions at the national and local level, says @lukedavid301.bsky.social.

🌏 www.wcs.org/cites

International trade protections from CITES have proven valuable to helping sharks and rays in the past. The upcoming #CITESCoP20 meeting is a major opportunity to make further progress, says WCS's @lukedavid301.bsky.social. wcs.org/cites-cop20 🌏

Mongabay shark meat exposé sparks call for hearing and industry debate Endangered shark meat and heavy metals found in Brazil’s public food trigger a reckoning.

We are only now getting a true understanding of the scale and scope of the shark meat trade, says WCS's @lukedavid301.bsky.social.

Upcoming #CITES #CoP20 will include urgently needed proposals to protect the world’s most threatened species.

🌏 news.mongabay.com/2025/08/mong...

This week in Mombasa, the Government of Kenya is bringing countries together to build momentum for new global protections for sharks and rays under CITES. 🌍

Can a Powerful International Wildlife Conservation Meeting Help Save Sharks? • The Revelator Seven proposals at the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species conference of the parties would benefit up to 70 species of sharks…if they pass.

ICYMI: I wrote about this year's shark conservation proposals at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, a powerful wildlife conservation meeting.

Please read and share!

@wcs.org @lukedavid301.bsky.social @therevelator.org

therevelator.org/cites-sharks/ 🧪🦑🌎🦈

Register for Sharks International 2026 is today!

🦈 Join a global community at #SI2026 in Sri Lanka, 4-8 May! Registration includes access to all sessions, keynotes, sides events, and the welcome reception. Don’t miss out, register now for #SI2026!

🔗https://si2026.org/

Something to celebrate this #SharkWeek. Global shark and ray management has improved at a rate and scale that was previously lacking, according to a recent study co-authored by WCS.

This is due to implementation of CITES listings. Gaps remain, though.

🌏 bit.ly/3Tn1cPi

Can a Powerful International Wildlife Conservation Meeting Help Save Sharks? • The Revelator Seven proposals at the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species conference of the parties would benefit up to 70 species of sharks…if they pass.

ICYMI: I have a new op-ed in @therevelator.org all about this year's shark conservation proposals at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, a powerful UN wildlife conservation meeting.

Learn what's at stake: therevelator.org/cites-sharks/

@wcs.org 🧪🦑🌎🦈🐟 #SciComm

Can a Powerful International Wildlife Conservation Meeting Help Save Sharks? • The Revelator Seven proposals at the upcoming Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species conference of the parties would benefit up to 70 species of sharks…if they pass.

I have a new op-ed out today about how new proposals at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species can help protect sharks! Please read and share. therevelator.org/cites-sharks/ 🧪🦑🌎🦈

Blacktip reef sharks swimming in the ocean

NEWS: @CITES shark and ray listings have driven improved global shark and ray management at a rate and scale that was previously lacking, says new study.

Uneven implementation underscores urgent need for continued investment.

🌏 bit.ly/3Tn1cPi

Countries seek urgent CITES protection of more than 70 sharks and rays Several proposals seeking greater protection of more than 70 shark and ray species from commercial trade were raised this week for deliberation at the 20th meeting of CITES, the global convention on t...

Countries seek urgent #CITES protection of more than 70 sharks and rays, writes @mongabay.com.

These listings could be a “key catalyst for conservation action,” says @lukedavid301.bsky.social.

🌎 bit.ly/40yHDHx

Countries seek urgent CITES protection of more than 70 sharks and rays Several proposals seeking greater protection of more than 70 shark and ray species from commercial trade were raised this week for deliberation at the 20th meeting of CITES, the global convention on t...

news.mongabay.com/short-articl...

Coalition of Governments Unites Behind Strict Trade Protections For Shark and Ray Species Freefalling Toward Extinction: Including Iconic Whale Sharks and Manta Rays Credit: © Steve De Neef. Tubbataha Reefs Expedition Shark Whale sharks are worth more alive than dead. Their global population has dropped by more than 50%. Despite some national protections, illegal ...

For more information see the WCS news release on these proposals here: newsroom.wcs.org/News-Release...

All of these proposals will be decided on at CITES CoP20 in Uzbekistan, 24 November - 5 December 2025- where stronger CITES action offers a last chance to ensure iconic species such as manta rays and whale sharks thrive in the world’s oceans for generations to come

Smoothounds are prized for their meat in dishes from fish and chips in Australia to Ceviche in Latin America, with several species in the family already Endangered- this family, that is the core of the global shark meat trade clearly needs CITES sustainability oversight

Gulper sharks are traded for their high-value liver oil used in luxury cosmetics, these deepwater species have already suffered declines of over 80% in some regions. With slow reproduction and no trade controls, the CITES Appendix II listing is urgently needed to prevent further overexploitation.

CITES Parties are also looking at other trade threats via AppII proposals that cover large parts of the trade in shark oil and meat trade limiting trade to sustainable levels. The proposals would bring regulation of the shark fin trade under CITES to over 96% of species in trade.

All of the stronger trade controls proposed for these threatened sharks and rays can be implemented by Governments all around the world using identification guides for fisheries, customs and enforcement officials that are already freely available: citessharks.org/visual-ident...

Additional proposals look to protect Wedgefish & Giant Guitarfish-the most threatened families of sharks and rays, with fins commanding the highest price in global shark fin markets. A proposed zero quota will apply a commercial trade ban similar to an App I listing

A new study released today from Hong Kong shows wedgefish, oceanic whitetip and whale shark fins continue to pour into this global trade hub illegally from all over the world – this stronger action from CITES is needed now: www.bloomassociation.org/en/wp-conten...

Headline proposals are to move Whale and Oceanic Whitetip sharks, and all Manta & Devil Rays on CITES Appendix I - CITES strongest step that will ban all commercial trade in these iconic marine wildlife species -A bold attempt to curb their freefall toward extinction @ #CITESCoP20

BREAKING: Governments act on the shark and ray extinction crisis by proposing increased protections for 70+ species of shark and ray via CITES listings at upcoming CoP20. 7 listing proposals, the most for sharks ever considered at a CITES meeting + more than 50 governments adding their names.

Gulper shark

Over the last decade CITES action has focused on shark fin trade. 90% of it is now regulated. We must now address other drivers of shark overfishing. Two other new proposals look to unsustainable oil and meat trades. These would ensure both gulper and smoothound shark trade is legal and sustainable.

Whale shark feeds underwater

Whale sharks, oceanic whitetips, wedgefish, manta rays—these iconic species need the same protections as tigers or gorillas. New #CITES proposals out now to prohibit commercial trade are “clearly justified,” says WCS’s @lukedavid301.bsky.social.

🌏 bit.ly/46jYIbN

Join us for a special #REELWILDNY screening of The Last Dive and a panel discussion with the award-winning filmmaker, Cody Sheehy, and WCS experts like @lukedavid301.bsky.social.

🗓️ Wednesday, June 11, at 7 pm
🌎 At WCS’s New York Aquarium
🎟️ Tickets: bit.ly/4jhmvfr

60k+ seabirds, Critically Endangered sharks and rays, and reefs full of fish. Latham Island is one of Tanzania’s most ecologically significant marine ecosystems.

Now, a first-of-its-kind expedition by WCS and partners is paving the way for its protection: bit.ly/3Guyd8E 🌍