join the coalition
International call to halt the extinction of sharks and rays
stand together
We, the undersigned governments and organizations, recognizing the essential ecological role of sharks and rays in sustaining marine and freshwater ecosystems, and acknowledging the unprecedented global extinction crisis facing these species, affirm our commitment to form and support a Global Coalition to Halt the Extinction of Threatened Sharks and Rays.
This Coalition aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 2, 12, and 14), the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (Targets 1–5, and 9), and mandates adopted under the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) and the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks (CMS Sharks MOU). It also supports the implementation of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The goal is to reverse current declining population trends of many shark and ray species and ensure that future generations inherit thriving aquatic ecosystems.
The Shark and Ray Extinction Crisis
Sharks and rays are among the most severely impacted species in the context of the ocean’s accelerating ecological crisis. More than 35% of sharks and rays are now threatened with extinction, largely due to overfishing. These species are particularly susceptible because they often grow slowly, mature late, and produce few offspring. Populations of oceanic sharks and rays have undergone steep declines, while numerous coral reef systems have shown significant reductions in shark and ray abundances. These losses compromise ocean health, threaten food security, and impact the livelihoods and cultural heritage of coastal communities, who also need to be included in decision making, paying due attention to any unintended consequences for just and equitable solutions.
With the 2025 UN Ocean Conference as a pivotal moment, we issue a global call to action to halt these declines and secure the future of these vital and iconic species.
Photo: Ben Jones | Ocean Image Bank
Photo: Kimberly Jeffries | OceanImageBank
ACTION 1
Protect Key Habitats and Secure Ecological Connectivity by integrating Important Shark and Ray Areas (ISRAs) into marine spatial planning and considering them within a range of area-based management measures. Such measures include designation and effective management of marine protected or fisheries management areas, based on scientific advice (including the adoption of bycatch mitigation measures and/or spatio-temporal measures), ensuring that shark and ray conservation actions are integrated and addressed in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs), particularly under Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, and engaging regional cooperation mechanisms to safeguard migratory corridors and facilitate transboundary conservation and management.
ACTION 2
Ensure Sustainable and Legal Trade via the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) through implementation of CITES and considering support for proposals for listing of additional threatened species on CITES Appendices I and II, at the CITES CoP 20 (November 2025) and future COPs, where appropriate.
ACTION 3
Establish a Global Intergovernmental Task Force on Shark and Ray Species to enhance coordination across the different relevant government sectors and across multilateral environmental agreements and regions that will coordinate action under CITES, CMS, Regional Fisheries Bodies (including Regional Fisheries Management Organizations [RFMOs]), intergovernmental organizations, national authorities, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and emerging instruments such as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
We affirm our commitment to support all or any of the above actions as appropriate to our national and/or institutional priorities and capacities and to report back on progress and outcomes at UNOC4.
The conservation of sharks and rays is not only an ecological imperative — it is a matter of global food security, ocean resilience, and intergenerational equity. Protection of these species will also benefit a wide range of other marine life sharing the same habitats and facing similar threats.
We call on all nations—range states and global actors alike—to act decisively and collaboratively. Let us be the generation that turned the tide for sharks and rays.
Together, we can secure a future where sharks and rays thrive in healthy oceans.