Nice, 10 July 2025 – The sustainable management of marine species remains one of the most pressing challenges in global ocean governance. Over 2,000 marine species are listed in the Appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), including cetaceans, sharks and rays, marine turtles, coral species, sea cucumbers, and seahorses.

Illegal, unmonitored and unregulated international trade can place significant pressure on marine biodiversity already facing threats related to the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss, among others. Ensuring that international trade in these species is legal, sustainable and traceable is essential to halting biodiversity loss, maintaining the health of ocean ecosystems and, in many cases, preserving the livelihoods of coastal communities.

Global commitment to people, the planet and the ocean resounded across the world last month as the third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC-3) concluded on 13 June in Nice, France. The Conference renewed global momentum toward the conservation and sustainable use of the ocean and marine biodiversity. The conference brought together Heads of State and Government, ministers, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society, and scientific experts to assess progress and mobilize action towards Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): Life Below Water.

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