CITES is the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species of plants and animals, and it’s Conference of the Parties (CoP) takes places every three years. It’s 17th CoP is being held right now in Johannesburg, South Africa.

CITES is mostly known for the regulation of ivory and rhino horn trade, but it also deals with the trade of numerous marine species. At this year’s CoP some very important uplistings are on the agenda, like for example mobula rays (Mobula sp.) and the thresher (Alopias sp.) and silky sharks (Carcharhinus falciformis). Other marine species at stake are for example corals and some fish species like the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), and also the review of cetaceans in Appendix I is on the table.