Experts say the hunting of sharks and rays has increased over roughly the past two years, because a high-value international market has grown for their fins, gill plates and skin. Bangladesh now ranks 20th in the world in shark exports.

Amid this trend of catching various endangered sharks and rays, the government has moved to protect these threatened marine animals.

As part of this, on 22 September the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change amended the schedules of the Wildlife (Conservation and Security) Act and published a notification of the updated list, which includes many endangered species of sharks and rays.

Schedule 1 of the list now includes eight genera and 23 species of sharks and rays, and Schedule 2 one genus and 29 species.

Those involved see the move as an important step in protecting these endangered marine animals.

Molla Rezaul Karim, forest conservator of the Forest Department's wildlife and nature conservation circle, told bdnews24.com that the updated list prepared by the Forest Department adds new information about the sharks and rays found in Bangladesh.

"The list has been updated on the basis of the government's international, regional and constitutional commitments to protect endangered marine animals and their important habitats," he said.

Experts say the risk of extinction will fall if the species are correctly identified and fishers, fish traders and consumers are made aware through training of those involved and wide publicity.

If steps are also taken to stop illegal fishing, the endangered marine animals will be protected and a balanced ecosystem maintained, they say.

Rezaul told bdnews24.com: "The list was made on the basis of the views of national and international experts, including the Department of Fisheries, and with technical support from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)."

Source: bdnews24. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.