Date of issue: 14 February 2024

Date of effect: 25 November 2023

Reference Number: IAN 2024-05

Attention:

• Industry bodies, Seafood Export Consultative Committee
• Registered export manufacturing establishments and registered vessels
• Registered exporters and EDI users
• Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry - Central and Regional offices

Purpose

To notify stakeholders that many sharks and rays have recently been added to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and permits will now be required to export these species.

Summary of Key Points

In 2023 a large number of species of requiem sharks (family Carcharhinidae) and species of guitarfishes (Rhinobatidae) were added to Appendix II on CITES. Species of hammerheads (Sphyrnidae), giant guitarfishes (Glaucostegidae) and wedgefishes (Rhinidae) were previously added to Appendix II.

These changes have resulted in new requirements that exporters must comply with. These include that all CITES-listed shark and ray specimens (including live specimens, meat, fins, and derivatives) destined for export must only be taken from a fishery with a current Wildlife Trade Operation (WTO) approval. These approvals can be viewed here.

The species permitted to be taken are listed in the WTOs for each fishery. These approved species have a positive non-detriment finding issued by Australia's CITES Scientific Authority. These non-detriment findings demonstrate that harvest and export from Australia will not be detrimental to species' survival in the wild. You can learn more about these findings here.

Further to these requirements, all exports of listed specimens (including live exports, meat, fins, and derivatives) must have a CITES export permit. For specimens taken before species were listed on CITES Appendix II (which, for the requiem sharks, was 25 November 2023), and which may be considered as 'stock on hand', a pre-Convention certificate will be required.

You can read more about CITES export permits here and access a CITES export permit application here.

To check whether a species is CITES listed, please use the CITES species website.

If you have further questions about obtaining a CITES permit, please contact the Wildlife Trade Regulation Section at wps@dcceew.gov.au.

Background

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that the international trade in wildlife does not threaten wild populations of plants and animals.

The import and export of species listed under CITES is regulated by a permitting system implemented by CITES member countries. The permitting system verifies that the international movement of a listed species is both legal and sustainable.

Both commercial and non-commercial trade of CITES listed plants and animals (including their parts and derivatives) is regulated. 

Further information

For additional information on the listed species, please contact the Sustainable Fisheries team in DCCEEW at sustainablefisheries@dcceew.gov.au. For more information on permits, please contact wps@dcceew.gov.au.

Disclaimer

The information provided in this advice is current at the time of writing and is intended for use as guidance only and should not be taken as definitive or exhaustive. The Commonwealth endeavours to keep information current and accurate, however, it may be subject to change without notice. Exporters are encouraged to verify these details with their importers prior to undertaking production/exports. The Commonwealth will not accept liability for any loss resulting from reliance on information contained in this notice.