Archived Publications
Since the first Appendix II listings for sharks, we have worked to develop tools to assist interested Parties to properly implement the listings of sharks and rays on Appendix II of CITES.
Many of the below tools are earlier versions of updated or more comprehensive tools/guidelines available on our Latest Tools page. We have also kept our policy briefs here for reference.
Earlier Versions of identification guides
CITES CoP19 visual identification Guides
CITES CoP16 and CoP17 shark identification guide
This guide outlines how customs, fisheries and enforcement officers can visually identify the fins of oceanic whitetip, porbeagle, three species of hammerheads, silky and thresher sharks in their most commonly traded form: dried and unprocessed.
Mako shark identification guides
This guide outlines how customs, fisheries, and enforcement officers can identify the fins of the shortfin and longfin mako shark in their most commonly traded form—dried and unprocessed.
Wedgefish and Giant Guitarfish identification guide
Wedgefish and giant guitarfish are also visually identifiable by their fins. Background information on species declines and fin descriptions are provided in this identification guide.
Past Genetics tools
Depending on the number of samples needed to test and how processed or degraded the samples are, three approaches have been created to identify whether products are sources from CITES listed shark and ray species. This guideline outlines genetic protocols created for all CoP17 and earlier CITES listed species.
Additionally, where officials suspect CITES listed sharks are present, but need additional genetic confirmation before they are legally allowed to seize a shipment, a rapid DNA toolkit may be helpful to confirm findings.
Previous Policy Briefs
Policy Brief on CoP18 Listed Species
At CITES CoP18, two species of mako shark, 10 species of wedgefish and six species of giant guitarfish were listed in CITES Appendix II due to severe declines driven by unmanaged international trade.
Policy Brief on CoP17 listed species
At CITES CoP17 in 2016, silky sharks, thresher sharks and mobula rays were listed in CITES Appendix II.
Background information on the declines in these species can be found below.
research on sharks and rays in trade
Two studies of Hong Kong, SAR and mainland China markets have revealed that guitarfishes, or shark-like rays, are more prevalent in the international trade than previously thought. Suspected by Clarke (2003) but not confirmed until recent studies were able to conduct genetic analyses, guitarfish have been found to have their own retail category, ‘Qun Chi’ with some processed fins sold for as much as $1659 USD per kilogram.
The study conducted by BLOOM Hong Kong found that in surveyed markets of Hong Kong, SAR and mainland China, more than one tenth of dried seafood shops (12.9% and 15.5% respectively) were selling Qun chi, both processed and unprocessed.
By showing that guitarfishes were in fact common in trade, and this trade was likely tied to their population declines, governments took data from this study and acted at CITES CoP18 to list giant guitarfish and wedgefish species in CITES Appendix II.
