Taiwan ahead of new ban on whale shark trade

台灣即將推出新的保育鯨鯊之貿易禁令

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s Ocean Conservation Administration has welcomed a newly enacted international ban on the trade of whale sharks, following a decision reached at the 20th conference of the parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The conference, concluding in early December in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, brought together about 1,000 government representatives from 163 countries, along with 209 observer organizations and more than 100 media outlets. Delegates reached a consensus to prohibit international trade in whale sharks, per CNA.

In a press release, the OCA said the CITES session also discussed potential trade restrictions on several other marine species, including sea cucumbers, cartilaginous fish such as whale sharks and spotted white-eyed sharks, ornamental marine fish, queen conch, and Anguillid eels.

The administration said international trade in cartilaginous fish, particularly whale sharks, has drawn increasing global attention. Delegates agreed the species faces a conservation crisis requiring stronger measures, including stricter trade controls.

As a result, whale sharks were unanimously upgraded from Appendix II, which regulates trade to avoid threats to species survival, to Appendix I, which generally prohibits international trade except under exceptional circumstances.

The OCA noted that under Taiwan’s Wildlife Conservation Act, whale sharks and manta rays were listed as protected marine wildlife on April 28, 2020. Harassment, abuse, hunting, or slaughter of the animals is punishable by six months to five years in prison and fines ranging from NT$300,000 to NT$1.5 million (US$10,000 to US$48,000).

The agency said whale sharks are frequently caught as bycatch because their habitats overlap with certain fishing areas. To reduce such incidents, the OCA in 2021 established a LINE messaging group allowing fishers to immediately report bycatch cases so that protected animals can be handled and released properly.

As of November, the OCA has worked with 27 fixed fishing net operators to report and release a total of 362 bycaught whale sharks — 22 in 2021, 27 in 2022, 81 in 2023, 97 in 2024, and 135 in 2025 — as well as two manta rays.

The OCA said it welcomes the decision to include whale sharks in CITES Appendix I and will continue to support conservation-related efforts. It also pledged to share Taiwan’s experience in marine conservation with the international community and to promote the sustainable use of marine resources.