At the CMS COP15 conference (March 2026), key proposals include listing three thresher shark species—pelagic, bigeye, and common thresher on Appendix I for strict protection. Other sharks proposed for protection due to population declines include great and scalloped hammerheads, various angelsharks, and wedgefishes.
Read MoreDistinguished Speaker Series Ocean Institute
Join the Ocean Institute hosting Shark stewards science team member Carmen Koepfer
February 4, 2026, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Join us for a powerful evening of discovery and inspiration with M.Sc. Carmen Koepfer, a passionate Mexican scientist and storyteller dedicated to ocean conservation. In her talk, “Closing the Gap for Our Ocean Giants: A Story of Hope from Baja,” she will take you on a journey into the human heart of one of the world’s greatest marine treasures: the Gulf of California.
Read MoreVoices: A Scalloped Hammerhead’s Call from Hawaii
Even though Hawaii’s hammerhead population isn’t currently listed under the ESA, it’s connected to these other populations through migration and genetic exchange. We’re all part of the same species. When hammerheads in the Atlantic or Pacific are killed, it affects the entire global population.
This is why we need the ESA to remain strong: sharks in all waters should be protected like the hammerheads of Hawaii. We shouldn’t have to wait until a population is on the brink of extinction before we act. We should protect all populations, in all waters, before it’s too late.
Read MoreEndangered Species Day, ESA Act at Risk
A change in the ESA could reverse critical environmental safeguards and over 50 years of important species protection. Allowing habitat destruction could be the death knell for imperiled species across the United States and beyond, including great hammerhead sharks, green sea turtles and short tailed albatross.
This month we are campaigning the US Congress to support endangered marine life and marine protection.
Defend the Endangered Species Act
The Trump administration is trying to undermine language in the Endangered Species Act to make it easier for developers and industry. It would loosen restrictions on industrial activities like coastal development and oil exploration that might damage an endangered animal’s habitat, even if the animal itself is not directly harmed.
Read MoreSupport Increasing International Protection for Endangered Sharks at CITES CoP20
As a U.S. nongovernmental organization Shark Stewards will attend CoP20 as a participant advancing the Oceanic Whitetip shark, Whale shark and Gulper Sharks. In addition we will be advancing the proposal with Mexico to increase Hammerhead sharks to Appendix I: the highest level of protection for trade available.
Read MoreDo Sharks Speak?
Sharks are often called the Silent Killer, but are they really silent? Communication can include many senses, and sharks have senses that few other species possess. Sharks have evolved as […]
Read MoreStop Overfishing Endangered Sharks in the Global Shark Fin Trade
Join our Friends at Only One Expressing your Support to List 3 Families of sharks and Rays
An upcoming vote at the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) at CoP19 November among over 180 nations could protect endangered sharks from the shark fin trade Please you add your name to this letter urging world leaders to end the shark fin trade driving the decline of many species of sharks.
World Aquatic Wildlife Day
Join Shark Stewards celebrating and protecting ocean life on
World Aquatic Animal Day
This year’s theme is The Impact of Our Human Activities on Aquatic Animals
Migratory Sharks Receive New Protections at Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS)
The governments belonging to the U.N. Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) moved to protect 21 shark and ray species at a meeting in Quito, Ecuador, […]
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