Dr Susan Lieberman from Pew Environment Group said it was a big day for the convention.

BBC: Cites meeting votes to protect Oceanic whitetip shark

"It is really significant for Cites to come of age like this, " Dr Susan Lieberman told BBC News.

BBC: 'Historic' day for shark protection

"This demonstrates greater sophistication, organization and finance behind the illegal movement of ever larger volumes of ivory from Africa to Asia, " said Susan Lieberman, director of the World Wildlife Fund's Global Species Programme.

CNN: Elephants at risk from gangs, eBay