Muscat – Oman has suspended issuing import permits for all shark species and derivatives of sharks for six months as the Environment Authority (EA) moves to strengthen regulation of the trade in line with national legislation and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

The suspension, which took effect on July 29, will remain in force until January 29, 2027, and applies to all shark species and their derivatives, whether or not they are listed under the CITES appendices.

In a notice issued on Wednesday, the EA said the measure is part of a reorganisation of procedures governing sharks and shark products to ensure compliance with Omani legislation and CITES requirements.

The latest suspension follows a series of temporary permit freezes for all exports and imports throughout most of 2025, when the authority renewed the restriction every three months as it reviewed regulatory procedures.

While shark fishing is legal in Oman, the practice of finning – removing shark fins and discarding the rest of the animal into the sea – is prohibited. Fishermen are required to land and market sharks whole, allowing authorities to better monitor catches and enforce conservation measures.

Oman has been a party to CITES since 2008. Under the international convention, trade in threatened shark species, including the great hammerhead and whale shark, is subject to strict controls aimed at ensuring that commercial activity does not threaten wild populations.