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

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 🌏

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. 🌍

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

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

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/ 🧪🦑🌎🦈

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, writes @mongabay.com. These listings could be a “key catalyst for conservation action,” says @lukedavid301.bsky.social. 🌎 bit.ly/40yHDHx

BREAKING: Governments act on the shark and ray extinction crisis by proposing increased protections for 70+ species of shark and ray via CITES listings at upcoming CoP20. 7 listing proposals, the most for sharks ever considered at a CITES meeting + more than 50 governments adding their names.

Over the last decade CITES action has focused on shark fin trade. 90% of it is now regulated. We must now address other drivers of shark overfishing. Two other new proposals look to unsustainable oil and meat trades. These would ensure both gulper and smoothound shark trade is legal and sustainable.

Whale sharks, oceanic whitetips, wedgefish, manta rays—these iconic species need the same protections as tigers or gorillas. New #CITES proposals out now to prohibit commercial trade are “clearly justified,” says WCS’s @lukedavid301.bsky.social. 🌏 bit.ly/46jYIbN

Join us for a special #REELWILDNY screening of The Last Dive and a panel discussion with the award-winning filmmaker, Cody Sheehy, and WCS experts like @lukedavid301.bsky.social. 🗓️ Wednesday, June 11, at 7 pm 🌎 At WCS’s New York Aquarium 🎟️ Tickets: bit.ly/4jhmvfr

60k+ seabirds, Critically Endangered sharks and rays, and reefs full of fish. Latham Island is one of Tanzania’s most ecologically significant marine ecosystems. Now, a first-of-its-kind expedition by WCS and partners is paving the way for its protection: bit.ly/3Guyd8E 🌍

Fish, turtles, rays ... Recently, Baited Remote Underwater Video systems (BRUVs) deployed in Mombasa Marine Park and Reserve along the Kenyan coast recorded a thriving marine ecosystem. This highlights the crucial role of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in conserving fisheries. 🌍

We’ve received 150+ proposals for Sharks International 2026—thank you! Our committee is reviewing submissions, with final decisions by end of April. 📄 Abstract submissions & registration open later this year. Stay tuned for updates on #SI2026! 📸 Ocean Image Bank | Jake Wilton

NEWS: New species of stingray discovered. Scientists, including from WCS Colombia, have identified the pointed-nose ray (Hypanus rubioi). 🌎 Read more: bit.ly/43LucX2

Training day 3…complete! Full carcass and dried product ID guides by @elasmoproject.bsky.social and Debra Abercrombie distributed to those involved in stopping 🇱🇰 #CITES listed #shark and ray trade. Interested? Get your copy here 👇 @wcs.org citessharks.org/resources #sharkconservation #Cefas

Training day 2 and it’s off to customs HQ here in Sri Lanka 🇱🇰 with @elasmoproject.bsky.social leading ID training in #CITES listed #sharks and rays. 30 attendees from customs, coastguard & govt. agencies all put through their paces with the theory before the practical tomorrow.. #sharkconservation

Mobulas, a Wonder of the Gulf of California, Are Disappearing. 🦑🌎🐟🦈 www.wired.com/story/mobula...

This week was the 78th Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) Standing Committee meeting – and a wide range of important shark conservation issues were on the agenda - Quick thread of key steps made in Geneva:

JUST IN: New proposals released at #CITESSC78, our WCS team on the ground in Geneva reports. Oceanic whitetip sharks, whale sharks, and manta rays are up for new protections to curb their freefall toward extinction. These will be voted on at #CITESCOP20 in November.

Next week in Geneva- CITES and the Governments that form this international wildlife trade convention will analyze the legality and sustainability of international trade. Updates to follow on a range of important actions for sharks and rays: cites.org/eng/pr/revie... @thewcs.bsky.social

🚨Our paper now out and Open Access in Conservation Biology🚨 🦈Urgent conservation action needed for WIO’s large-bodied fish. Sharks, giant groupers & green humphead parrotfishes face alarming declines in the WIO due to overfishing & climate change. 🦈 @sosbangor.bsky.social t.co/wJiMuTmZih

OPEN CALL for Sharks International 2026 proposals for keynote speakers, themed sessions and panels, workshops, and side events 📢 🦈 Please submit proposals via: forms.gle/9EiKJVncMoa7... Deadline: 15th March 2025

Iconic rays face ongoing threats to survive, shows a new study. The research shines a spotlight on the deeply unsustainable trade in manta and mobula gills and meat, at levels that will drive this family to extinction if action isn’t taken urgently. 🌏 🌊 t.co/SJPzrrsLIs

This week in the Seychelles @thewcs.bsky.social helped organize + facilitate a workshop for multiple Government depts, researchers + NGO's. The key aim - to identify the steps needed for the Seychelles to implement its international shark+ray conservation obligations under CITES, CMS and RFMO's:

#GlobalSharkTrends Steep declines in largest and most functionally important shark and rays species, especially: ➡️ Rhino rays (sawfishes, giant guitarfishes, wedgefishes), devil & eagle rays ➡️ Hammerheads, requiem, angel and gulper sharks. 🧵9/20

Overfishing has halved populations of chondrichthyan fishes – sharks, rays, & chimaeras – since 1970. Target fisheries & incidental capture (bycatch) has resulted in over 1/3 threatened with extinction. #GlobalSharkTrends 🧵4/20 #EndOverfishing #SustainableDevelopmentGoals

New #GlobalSharkTrends study published in @science.org reveals #overfishing has more than halved shark & ray populations over the past 50-years causing widespread erosion of ecological function and exceptionally high extinction risk 👉Full article bit.ly/GlobalSharkTrends 🧵1/20

This new comprehensive @iucnshark.bsky.social report showcases the huge and ongoing pressure that biologically vulnerable sharks and rays face if they are to maintain their key ecosystem roles in modern oceans. The @thewcs.bsky.social strategy to address this crisis is profiled here:

BREAKING: The IUCN Species Survival Commission Shark Specialist Group has released a new report on the global conservation status of sharks and their relatives. portals.iucn.org/library/node...

Our new paper profiles the threat of targeted fish maw fisheries to sharks, rays, and cetaceans. 1. maw is facilitating landing and trade of CITES listed species. 2. Global trade data bases need to recognize fish maw as a product driving fishery effort conbio.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...

One in seven species (14%) of deepwater sharks and rays is threatened with extinction - and overfishing is the main reason theconversation.com/fished-for-t...

my employer is now on Bluesky--please follow for strong global conservation content!

Hey - I am Luke and I spend my time saving sharks and rays. Want to find out how? Check out the Wildlife Conservation Society's global shark & ray conservation program here: www.wcs.org/our-work/wil...