Donald Trump moves to protect sharks, adds them to endangered species list

The Trump administration has been criticised in recent months for its stance on the environment and protected parks, but a rash of new measures reveals that sharks are popular within the Oval Office.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) announced on Tuesday 9 May that it would be adding daggernose sharks, striped smooth-hound sharks, spiny angel sharks and Argentine angel sharks to the Endangered Species List.

The NMFS is also moving to list Brazilian guitarfish as an endangered species, while the narrownose smooth-hound shark will be listed as a threatened species.

Though the NMFS is moving to protect these sharks and guitarfish, the agency cannot designate a critical habitat, which would serve as a "safe zone", because the endangered and threatened populations of these species live outside US jurisdiction.

The shark and guitarfish protections stem from a 2013 petition from WildEarth Guardians. Two years later, the Obama administration proposed adding these species to the Endangered Species List.

While Donald Trump has reversed course on many rulings from the Obama administration, the NMFS chose to follow through on these endangered species protections.

The protections go into effect in 30 days.