Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica withdraw from the international agreement that protects sharks

By Luis Pavecio

The governments of Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica decided to withdraw from an international measure aimed at protecting five species of sharks threatened with extinction. The decision allows these countries to continue authorizing their capture, despite warnings about the deterioration of their populations and the pressure from fishing activities.

The agreement came into effect on June 27, 2026, after being approved during the COP15 of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), held in March. Ecuador, Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica announced their decision to opt out of the agreement in October.

Peru, Ecuador, Chile, and Costa Rica withdrew from the international agreement that protects sharks.

The shark species affected are the pelagic thresher, bigeye thresher, common thresher, great hammerhead, and smooth hammerhead. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), all five are at varying degrees of threat, from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered.

A decision that weakens the protection of migratory sharks
The withdrawal of the four countries represents an obstacle to international initiatives aimed at recovering the populations of these large fish. Due to their movements between waters of different jurisdictions, their conservation depends on coordinated measures among the states that share their migratory routes.

The scenario is concerning because global shark and ray populations have decreased by approximately 50% since 1970. Among the main causes is overfishing, driven by both direct capture and bycatch.

Additionally, in various regions, threats persist related to illegal trade, fin trafficking, and the extraction of specimens of critically endangered species. These activities can affect the balance of marine ecosystems, as sharks play significant roles in food chains and in regulating other populations.

How the international treaty protecting sharks emerged
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals was adopted in 1979 and came into force in 1983, under the framework of the United Nations. Its objective is to promote the conservation of wild animals that cross national borders during migration movements.

The agreement establishes different levels of protection according to the conservation status of the species. Appendix I includes those that are in danger of extinction and establishes commitments for the countries that are part of it, including the protection of their habitats and the removal of obstacles to their migrations.

Over the years, the Convention has incorporated various marine species, including sharks and rays, to strengthen international cooperation against threats that cannot be resolved through isolated policies.

The ecological importance of conserving sharks
Sharks play a fundamental role in ocean ecosystems, as many species occupy high positions in food webs. By regulating the populations of their prey, they help maintain ecological balance and marine biodiversity.

Therefore, their decline can trigger cascading effects on other species and alter the functioning of marine environments. The protection of their migratory routes, fishing regulation, and combatting illegal trade are essential measures to prevent further losses.

The challenge will be to strengthen cooperation among countries and prevent political differences from weakening conservation efforts for species that depend on shared oceans.
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Credit: Noticias Ambeintales