TRAFFIC's ocean team will be there. Helping to build a new, wiser, sustainable relationship with the ocean - on which all of our lives depend
The Shark and Ray Extinction Crisis
Sharks and rays are among the most severely impacted species in the ocean’s accelerating ecological crisis - more than 35% are now threatened with extinction.
They are vulnerable, as they grow slowly, mature late, and produce few offspring. Populations have undergone steep declines, compromising ocean health and food security. This devastates livelihoods and cultural heritage of coastal communities. At the 2025 UN Ocean Conference, we issue a global call to action to halt these declines and secure the future of these vital and iconic species.
After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea. We all need a healthy ocean, so we must change our ways. The ocean’s power of regeneration is remarkable if we just offer it the chance. It’s not too late.
Sir David Attenborough
Protecting the ocean through technology and community empowerment
PROTECTING SHARKS AND RAYS FROM ILLEGAL TRADE
Millions of people across the world have been relying on sharks and rays for hundreds of years but they are disappearing from our oceans because of overfishing and unsustainable trade..
community marine conservation in zanzibar
Unsustainable, illegal, and unreported fishing in Zanzibar's waters are pushing many species towards extinction, affecting marine ecosystems and those who rely on them.
Community management of marine protected areas is contributing to conservation and sustainable human development.
Murky Waters - Inside Congo's shark trade
The story of the Republic of the Congo's artisanal shark trade.
We explore the threats of over-exploitation and illegal fishing facing shark conservation in Congalese waters and the local livelihoods put at risk by illegal commercial fishing by Chinese trawlers.
Emerging trades in High-value marine products
Fish maw
Fish maws are highly-prized, luxury seafood products. However, the growth of illegal trade is not only impacting vulnerable communities but also starving source countries of potential trade revenue, and threatening the future sustainability of the international trade.
Sea cucumbers
Sea cucumbers are essential for the healthy functioning of marine ecosystems. Coastal communities are also heavily dependent on sea cucumber fisheries, with community members involved in the catching, processing, and drying of sea cucumbers.
Seahorses
Most seahorses are caught as bycatch within many fisheries. Instead of releasing them back into the ocean however, they are kept and dried for the Traditional Chinese Medicine market where they are regarded as a health tonic.
