The Project AWARE Foundation is running an online petition, Give Sharks a Fighting Chance, which it will present to CITES representatives of governments worldwide.
The petition was launched on 8 June, World Oceans Day, “in response to the results” of the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) Conference of the Parties, held in Qatar in March.
Proposals, from countries including Britain and America, for restrictions in the trade of eight shark species failed to get the required two-thirds majority vote.
As a result, the spiny dogfish, porbeagle, oceanic whitetip, smooth hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead, dusky and sandbar sharks continue to be fished with impunity by fishing industries unfettered by trade quotas.
Project AWARE hopes that divers in particular will respond to its call.
“Divers are some of sharks’ strongest advocates and share a deep concern for threatened shark populations,” Jenny Miller Garmendia, Director of Project AWARE Foundation, said at the campaign’s launch.
“We need to let governments know that we are outraged that short-term economic interests won out over the advice of science.”
To support the campaign, go to www.projectaware.org/givesharksachance.
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