Local and international wildlife organisations are urging the government to support a proposal by Germany to protect two shark species by listing them under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).

In a letter to Environment Minister George Pullicino, the organisations said they were hopeful Malta would recognise the conservation potential and sound basis of the proposal and vote in favour along with other EU member states at the Fourteenth Conference of the Parties to CITES next week.

The sharks involved are the spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) and porbeagle sharks (Lamna nasus). Both species can be found in the Mediterranean.

The organisations, which include the Shark Research Institute and the Malta-based Sharkman's World Organisation, said in their letter: "Sharks generally grow slowly, mature late and produce few young. These characteristics make shark populations especially prone to over-exploitation and long-lasting depletion.

"Spiny dogfish and porbeagle sharks are no exceptions to this rule. In fact, the severe depletion of their populations in several parts of the world is exceptionally well documented."

European demand for spiny dogfish meat was leading to the targeting of pregnant females leading in the depletion of populations around the world.

The organisations said they applaud Germany's intention to act as a responsible consumer of the vulnerable spiny dogfish and porbeagle sharks and "respectfully urge" Malta to vote in favour of the proposal as an EU member.