But disappointment at rejection of proposal for greater eel protection 

The 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the global forum where governments set the rules for international wildlife trade, concluded on 5 December 2025 with WWF welcoming outcomes that advance protection for species such as sharks and rays. However, the NGO also acknowledged there were a few disappointments – notably, the EU’s proposal to list all eel species on Appendix II was rejected by a wide margin.