New laws could save deepwater sharks from extinction

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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CNN or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Gulper sharks, deep-sea creatures prized for their liver oil rich in squalene, are facing extinction. Targeted for use in cosmetics, their populations have plunged by over 80% in some regions
• At the CITES summit in Uzbekistan, a proposal to list all gulper sharks under Appendix II aims to regulate trade and provide crucial protection for these threatened species

🔭 The context: Gulper sharks, found in deep waters from 200 to 1,500 meters, are increasingly vulnerable as fishing technology allows more targeted harvesting
• Their liver oil, rich in squalene, has long been used in cosmetics, medicines, and even nicotine patches
• Despite alternatives like plant-based squalene, overfishing continues, driven by the lucrative global market
• Gulper sharks’ slow reproduction and late maturation make them particularly vulnerable to over-exploitation

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The extinction of gulper sharks would disrupt deep-sea ecosystems. With their slow recovery rates, these sharks cannot sustain the current level of exploitation
• A successful listing on CITES Appendix II would enforce regulations that help curb illegal fishing and over-exploitation, pushing industries to adopt more sustainable alternatives and protect marine biodiversity

⏭️ What's next: Countries at CITES will vote on the proposal by December 5. If approved, trade of gulper sharks will be tightly controlled, forcing stronger sustainability measures across the global market
• This move could also set a precedent for protecting other deep-sea species at risk of extinction from human activity

💬 One quote: “They just can’t sustain this level of exploitation.” — Matt Collis, IFAW.

📈 One stat: Gulper shark populations have dropped by over 80% in some regions in the last three decades

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