In a landmark move, countries around the world have adopted international protections for many species of sharks and rays that are widely hunted, some whose parts are used in commercial products like makeup and moisturizers and in culinary delicacies.

The measures were passed Friday as part of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, an international agreement among 185 countries aimed to ensure that international trade in wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species.

The whale shark, the largest fish species in the world and hunted for its fins, meat and skin, is now banned from commercial trade -- a shift that will not only help the species recover but also help boost local tourism.

So are oceanic whitetip

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