Luke Warwick

Good News About Sharks The illegal shark trade is a transnational challenge, and so is the solution.

Good news about sharks. 🦈

Oceanic whitetip sharks are disappearing from the ocean quickly, largely due to the illegal trade of their fins for shark fin soup.

But, led by Panama, we have reached a turning point, says a new piece co-authored by @lukedavid301.bsky.social.

🌎 time.com/7362449/shar...

Resounding support for sharks and rays at CITES CoP20 It was action over extinction as shark conservationists ended 2025 ringing in success at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) CoP20 as over 70 sp...

The end of 2025 was rang in with success for shark and ray conservation. At the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) CoP20, over 70 of these species received new protection from international trade.

saveourseas.com/resounding-s...

Sharks and Rays Gain Sweeping Protections From Wildlife Trade

From @nytimes.com: Sharks and Rays Gain Sweeping Protections From Wildlife Trade

These represent the first time there’s been recognition that some sharks and rays are wildlife, just like elephants or rhinos, WCS’s @lukedavid301.bsky.social tells the paper.

🌎 www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/s...

“This is one of the greatest days in the history of shark and ray conservation.”

Historic trade protections were adopted at #CITESCOP20 today. The next step is strong implementation on the ground, says WCS’s @lukedavid301.bsky.social. 🌏

What new protections will mean for these widely hunted sharks The sharks and rays are widely hunted, their parts used in commercial products like makeup and moisturizers and in culinary delicacies.

Sweeping trade protections adopted for sharks and rays at #CITESCOP20.

“It’s taken 20 to 30 years to get recognition that sharks and rays — keystone predators in marine ecosystems globally — need that protection,” says WCS’s @lukedavid301.bsky.social.

🌏 www.washingtonpost.com/climate-solu...

WCS Celebrates Historic and Sweeping Trade Protections for Sharks and Rays Adopted at CITES CoP20 Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 28, 2025 – The following statement was issued today from CITES CoP20, celebrating the adoption of sweeping and historic adoption of new international trade protections for ...

‼️ Historic and sweeping trade protections have been adopted at #CITESCOP20 for sharks and rays.

It's the most comprehensive advance in global shark conservation in CITES history. It belongs to the Parties who championed these protections, says @lukedavid301.bsky.social.

Read more: bit.ly/486puVJ

WCS Celebrates Historic and Sweeping Trade Protections for Sharks and Rays Adopted at CITES CoP20 Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 28, 2025 – The following statement was issued today from CITES CoP20, celebrating the adoption of sweeping and historic adoption of new international trade protections for ...

A major victory for sharks and rays at #CITESCOP20. All CITES shark and ray proposals pass – marking the most comprehensive advance in global shark conservation in CITES history. This took a true partnership effort to achieve the outcome.

@lukedavid301.bsky.social

newsroom.wcs.org/News-Release...

Historic Victory for Sharks as Oceanic Whitetips Upgraded to Appendix I at CITES Banning International Trade Samarkand, Uzbekistan, Nov. 27, 2025 – CITES CoP20 Parties voted to list oceanic whitetip sharks on Appendix I, the highest level of protection offered by CITES. The vote marks a major victory for one...

Historic victory for sharks: #CITESCoP20 Parties voted to list oceanic whitetip sharks on Appendix I, the highest level of protection offered by CITES.

“Today’s decision is a watershed moment for all sharks and rays,” said WCS’s Luke Warwick.

🌏 Read more: bit.ly/4olha9w

Grateful to Panama, Brazil, and Benin. At #COP20 today, these countries brought together a group of government leaders, scientists, and CITES implementation experts to spotlight this year’s shark and ray proposals. Creating momentum for these species. 🌏

For sharks on the brink of extinction, CITES Appendix II isn’t protective enough (commentary) Sharks are some of the most threatened animals on Earth, with approximately one-third of all species assessed as threatened with extinction on the IUCN Red List. These animals are not only older than ...

ICYMI: I have a new commentary out in MongaBay about important new shark conservation research and what it means for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The CITES COP starts today.

@wcs.org 🌎🧪🦑🐠

news.mongabay.com/2025/11/for-...

At #CITESCOP20, governments face last chance to save whale sharks, manta rays, and more.

“The science is unequivocal, and the tools and support to implement CITES already exist for governments once listings pass,” says WCS's @lukedavid301.bsky.social.

🌏 bit.ly/3M1qTnS

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