At a conference of 178 governments in Bangkok in March 2013, the leaders agreed to include five more shark species and two manta ray species under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Starting this week, protection will be provided to the shark and manta ray species. There were certain technical issues with regard to the listing like enforcement agencies were learning how to identify products in trade. Therefore, officials were given time period of 18 months to prepare the introduction of CITES requirements.

From now on, any type of trade in oceanic white tip shark, smooth hammerhead shark, porbeagle, great hammerhead shark, scalloped hammerhead shark and manta ray products will face restrictions as per national regulations.

It has also been said that the commercial trade of the sharks and manta ray species will be regulated. These species can only be exported or taken from national and international water if the authorities' concerned says that the species were legally sourced. Also, the export will not threat the species.

It was important to provide protection to the species, as in past few years many shark and manta ray species have witnessed a decline in their population owing to commercial fishing. Major demand of the sharks and manta ray species comes from China.

As per data, around 100 million sharks are killed every year and fins from up to 73 million are taken to be used in shark fin soup. Due to these practices, some shark species have declined by up to 98% in 15 years.

Around one-third of pelagic shark species are in the threatened category by the IUCN's Red List. Secretary-General of CITES, John E Scanlon said, "Implementation will involve some challenges to ensure that this trade is legal, sustainable and traceable, and this will include practical issues such as identifying the fins and meat that are in trade".