A United Nations forum on endangered species rejected bids today to put in place controls on the multi-million dollar trade in two types of sharks, highly prized for their meat and fins.
The spiny dogfish, also known as rock salmon, and the porbeagle shark failed to get protection from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
Conservationists slammed the decision, saying today's rejection and Thursday's failure to limit lucrative trade in cedar and rosewood timber highlighted the strength of commercial interests over wildlife protection.
"The failure to list spiny dogfish and porbeagle is a shameful triumph of politics over conservation," said Cliona O'Brien of environmental group WWF. "We needed action, not procrastination."
"This is a profound disappointment," said Carroll Muffett, deputy campaign director at Greenpeace.
"Today is the Ocean Day and the CITES parties decided to celebrate it by rejecting protection for two sharks."
Germany, acting on behalf of the European Union, had asked the 171-nation CITES pact to list the spiny dogfish and the porbeagle shark on Appendix II which regulates trades in threatened animals and plants.
The EU and the United States, which also supported the proposals, argued the two shark species had seen a substantial population decline in parts of the world and that regional fishery bodies had failed to manage stocks properly.
The shark proposals received over half of the votes at the June 3-15 CITES meeting in The Hague but fell short of winning the two-thirds majority needed for a listing.
CITES, whose restrictions were once aimed at exotic species like leopards and parrots, is now shifting its focus on more commercially important animals and plants.