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A U.S.-backed proposal to protect the heavily fished hammerhead sharks, prized for their fins, has been rejected by a U.N. conservation meeting.
Populations of the scalloped hammerhead, great hammerhead and smooth hammerhead have dropped 85 percent due to rising demand for shark fin soup in China and other parts of Asia.
Japan led the opposition at the 175-nation Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, or CITES, arguing that better enforcement, not trade restrictions was the answer.
The Americans say CITES needs to step in because regional fisheries are not managing the species.
Shark fin soup is often served at Chinese weddings and banquets.
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