Cebu Marine Conservations Call for Inclusion of Thresher Sharks in CITES

Cebuano marine conservationists are calling on the international community to include thresher sharks in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) this September.

CITES, an international agreement between governments, aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.

The Save Philippine Seas, Greenpeace, Migo sa Iho (Friend of Shark), the Cebu Provincial Government and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) 7 have agreed to support the proposal to enlist thresher sharks in CITES Appendix II.

Thresher sharks abound in the seas in northern Cebu, especially in Malapascua Island off Daanbantayan, Cebu.

The efforts of the provincial and local government and non-government organizations strengthen the proposal of including thresher sharks in Apendix II of CITES but it needs a strong support from the National Government.

Appendix II includes species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but in which trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.

Anna Oposa of Save Philippine Seas admitted that there are challenges in this cause, including an information and education campaign.

Andres Bojos, BFAR 7 director, said they will support the cause but research and studies are needed to further provide a regulation for the species.

“Since the province has passed an ordinance listing these sharks to be protected, we are also calling on the other provinces to support this advocacy and finally we are bringing it to the national level,” said Vince Cinces of Greenpeace Philippines.

Cinces said these sharks are not life-threatening and expressed hopes more tourists will come to dive in Malapascua in Daanbantayan.

Daanbantayan Mayor Augusto Corro has declared Monad shoal and Gato islet as shark and ray sanctuaries last June 2015. (PNA) LDV/EB/SSC