Shark Fin Soup a Thing of the Past? 5 Sharks Species Granted CITES Protection

Five species of critically endangered but commercially valuable shark have been given added protection by delegates at an international wildlife conference on Monday.

Millions of sharks killed every year to feed the vast appetite for shark-fin soup in Asia which has drastically affected the populations of oceanic whitetip, three varieties of hammerheads and the porbeagle shark, according to the BBC. The 178 signatory nations to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) voted on Monday to protect five species of shark threatened with extinction from overfishing. Manta rays also won new protection.

The protection right was put forward by nations including the United States, Brazil and Columbia and was protested by China and Japan where the shark fin soup is popular. Shark supporters have been attempting to get Cites to protect these species since 1994.

Under the terms of the treaty, governments will have to comply with the regulations that require them to issue sustainable export sanctions within 18 months. If they do not, they could be subject to sanctions.

The porbeagle, once sought for its valuable meat especially for European markets, also saw a population crash, dropping 85% from 1981 to 2005 in the north and west Atlantic. In 2010, the EU had to halt fishing due to the tiny numbers left. The porbeagle shark lost out on protection in 2010 at Cites by one vote, but this summit, being held in Bangkok, saw a much wider coalition of 37 nations backing the shark proposals.

Scientists estimate that about 100 million sharks are killed by humans every year, representing 6-8% of all sharks and far above a sustainable level.

"We are thrilled that the tide is now turning for shark conservation, with governments listening to the science and acting in the interests of sustainability," said Elizabeth Wilson, manager of Pew's global shark campaign, according to the Guardian. "With these new protections, they will have the chance to recover and once again fulfil their role as top predators."