CMS COP15 in Brazil Adopts Landmark Protections for Threatened Shark Species
Governments at the CMS COP15 in Campo Grande, Brazil agreed on March 29, 2026 to list thresher sharks and hammerheads on Appendix I, granting the highest level of international protection.
The 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species (CMS COP15), held in Campo Grande, Brazil, concluded on March 29, 2026 with landmark new protections for several threatened shark species.
The agreements include new Appendix I listings for all three thresher shark species — pelagic, bigeye, and common thresher — along with scalloped hammerhead and great hammerhead sharks. Appendix I provides the highest level of CMS protection, requiring governments to prohibit the catch of listed species and reduce human-caused mortality across their migratory range.
Governments also listed the Patagonian narrownose smoothhound on Appendix II, which promotes cooperative management. This species has suffered population declines exceeding 80% over three generations, primarily from fishing pressure.
For the global diving community, the protections are significant. Sharks are a cornerstone of dive tourism, generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually for coastal economies at destinations like the Maldives, Palau, and the Bahamas. Global shark populations have declined by more than 70% since 1970 due to commercial fishing and the fin trade.
Conservation groups have cautiously welcomed the outcome while noting that enforcement across international waters remains a major challenge. The 133 signatory nations must now translate these commitments into effective domestic legislation.