JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 16 (Xinhua) -- South Africa, home to one quarter of the world's 400 plus shark species, will this month host the triennial meeting of the World Wildlife Conference where strengthened protection for sharks and rays will again be high on the agenda.
The World Wildlife Conference, officially known as 17th Conference of Parties of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), will be held in Johannesburg from Sept. 23 to Oct. 5.
Delegates from over 180 countries attending the meeting -- also known as CITES CoP17 -- will receive updates on actions taken following CoP16 in Bangkok, where five shark species and all manta rays were given protection under CITES Appendix II, with trade in these species now being regulated to prevent over-exploitation.
"Since CoP16 in 2013, CITES, in close collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and other partners, has demonstrated the added value of CITES in protecting sharks and rays from overexploitation," CITES Secretary-General John E Scanlon said in a press release emailed to Xinhua Friday.
This year, at CITES CoP17, countries are again being presented with new sharks and rays listing proposals, which they will consider and decide upon as a sovereign body, informed by the best available science, according to Scanlon.
Sharks play a critical role in maintaining the health and diversity of wider aquatic ecosystems and are particularly vulnerable to overexploitation owing to their late maturity, longevity and low rates of productivity.
Globally, sharks continue to be viewed by some as feared predators, yet the survival of many species of sharks is threatened by human activity, including overfishing, over-consumption of their meat, fins and cartilage, and the destruction of habitats.
CITES Conference of Parties meets every three years to consider amendments to the Appendices, make recommendations to improve the effectiveness of the Convention, and to assess the implementation of the Convention.
