Reports from the #CITESCoP18 (a meeting of countries which have ratified a treaty to protect endangered species where international trade is contributing to the endangerment) are that neither the USA nor Canada will be supporting a proposal to list shortfin mako sharks. 1/
This is despite the fact that the species is considered endangered, worldwide, by the @IUCN @IUCNRedList, a group of scientists who are best placed to make these determinations. 2/
And despite the fact that the north Atlantic population (where, you know, USA and Canada are located) is in awful shape, with the pop expected to continue to decrease until 2035, even with zero catch, and the chance at recovery on a 50-year timeline barely better than 50/50. 3/
It is absolutely appropriate for CITES to list fished species. CITES does not regulate fishing. It regulates trade. Fishing groups (like #ICCAT, where I will push this) need to make sure fishing doesn't drive endangerment. CITES needs to make sure *trade* doesn't. 4/
I'm disappointed that USA and Canada seem to have made this decision. Endangered shortfin makos are both fished and traded internationally. The global community needs to track both of those activities so that humans can be sure neither threatens the species with extinction. 5/
As my friend @WhySharksMatter said the other day, there is a myth that the most developed countries are always the good guys when it comes to conservation. This is another example of why that is a myth instead of a reality. 6/6
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