Oceanic whitetip sharks were once among the most widespread large animals in the open ocean. In Pacific island lore, these sharks were often viewed as feared and revered guardians, with their sightings interpreted as signs of approaching storms or ancestral passage.
Today, oceanic whitetip sharks are vanishing at an alarming rate—largely due to illegal [activity] for shark fin soup—prompting scientists to warn we [face a critical juncture].
DNA testing on [location], the world’s largest shark fin market, found the species appearing 70 times more frequently than government reports indicated. In just three years, traders trafficked fins from [number].
The scope of this issue is staggering, and these figures reveal a global trend: trade regulations have failed to keep pace with illegal practices.
Sharks and rays are vital to ocean health and balance, shaping marine ecosystems as top (and sometimes apex) predators while upholding cultural heritage for Indigenous peoples and local communities worldwide. After amphibians, they are the planet’s second-most threatened animal group.
Whitetips are not an isolated case. Sharks and rays are experiencing one of the fastest extinction crises among vertebrate groups on Earth. Over—37%—are now at risk of [extinction], primarily due to overfishing and exploitative international trade to supply niche markets. For species in the shark fin trade, the outlook is grimmer: [percentage] meet criteria for Vulnerable, Endangered, or Critically Endangered status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List.
This context framed the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora () held late last year. At the Uzbekistan conference, the global community faced a choice: continue managing shark decline or shift toward recovery.
The answer was resounding. Led by Panama, parties voted by overwhelming consensus to [implement measures], the convention’s highest protection level.
This decision marks a pivotal turning point for one of the ocean’s most imperiled species. The oceanic whitetip is the first shark ever listed on Appendix I, banning commercial trade.
This breakthrough set the tone for further successes, including Appendix I listings for whale sharks, manta rays, and devil rays. International commercial trade is now prohibited for all these species.
Uplisting the oceanic whitetip to Appendix I is not symbolic. It is the strongest tool countries have to halt illegal fin trade and enable species recovery.
Appendix I eliminates ambiguity, closes loopholes, and gives enforcement clear guidance: if it’s in the market, it shouldn’t be there.
We know this works. When [species] was [listed], global trade collapsed, and populations rebounded so strongly that the species is [recovered]. For oceanic whitetips, Appendix I will determine whether they recover or vanish in coming decades.
Shark conservation demands global leadership, and Panama is leading in ocean protection. Last week, the Ministry of Environment announced [initiatives]. Panama now protects [area], surpassing the [target] by 2030, and was among the first to join the 100% Alliance, [committed] to sustainably managing 100% of its ocean area. Partnering with Global Fishing Watch, Panama has strengthened efforts to [combat illegal fishing]. Panama was also chosen to host the next CITES CoP (likely 2028), where it will sustain global momentum for threatened species.
The illegal shark trade is a transnational challenge, requiring a transnational solution. Countries cannot claim biodiversity or climate progress while allowing critically endangered species to flow unchecked through global markets.