CITES sharks: Management workshop for Guatemalan customs, fisheries officers, and private exporters

The international trade of shark fins represents a main threat to the survival of threatened and endangered shark species. Proper implementation of trade restrictions through CITES first requires capacity building on species specific identification of products in all stages of commerce (i.e., landing, processing and exporting), involving an array of government institutions. The government of Guatemala has expressed its resolve to move the CITES implementation process forward in 2019, with over 60 government officers signed up for this two-day Shark Fin Identification Workshop. The grantee expects the workshop to set the stage to reach future CITES implementation goals for Guatemala in the near and mid future.