Malaysia was among 40 countries that voted against a proposal to protect several species of sharks and rays from exploitation at a Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (Cites) conference.

According to the BBC, 102 countries voted in favour of the move to strengthen protection for 18 species of sharks and rays during the Conference of the Parties (COP18) of Cites in Geneva yesterday.

Other countries which voted against the proposal include China, Japan, Iceland and New Zealand.

Cites is a legally-binding international treaty which Malaysia has been a party to since 1977.

Malaysia is represented at the ongoing conference by the Water, Land and Natural Resources Ministry.

The resolution does not ban the fishing of the 18 species – including shortfin and longfin mako shark, six species of guitarfish and 10 species of wedgefish – but aims to impose rules on sustainable trade.

Only guitarfish and wedgefish are present in Malaysian waters.