After two weeks of negotiations between more than 50 countries, the Fifth Session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) ended last Friday without establishing a High Seas Treaty — once again leaving more than two-thirds of the global ocean unprotected. But important progress was also made, which the Only One community of supporters has helped push for. World leaders are closer than ever before to finalizing the treaty, and there’s reason to be optimistic that the next negotiation will be the last step in the nearly two-decades–long process. We can’t let up the pressure now, and we need you with us! Can you help build momentum for the coalition to protect the High Seas by sharing our petition with your network? We’re just shy of our goal of 75,000 signatures.
Update - Campaign Win!
On Nov. 17th, an overwhelming majority of global leaders voted to list requiem sharks as a CITES protected species – the biggest shark protection measure in CITES history. Requiem sharks – one of the ocean's largest and most important shark families – have been fished to the edge of extinction. The listing will not only protect endangered requiem sharks from trade, but also will regulate more than 90 percent of the global shark fin trade, up from 25% prior to the vote.
An upcoming vote this week amongst over 180 nations could protect endangered sharks from being commercially finned. Can you add your name to our letter urging world leaders to end this gruesome practice?
The global appetite for fins and lack of sufficient management of commercial fisheries has devastated shark populations. Today, nearly two-thirds of requiem sharks – one of the ocean’s largest and most important shark families – have been fished to the edge of extinction.
But we have an unprecedented opportunity to save requiem sharks from global extermination. This week, world governments will hold their annual Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) and vote on whether to add requiem sharks to the list of protected species, and by doing so, regulate the majority of the global shark fin trade.
