There is some good news for the conservation of smooth-coated otter as a ban on international commercial trade has been agreed by an overwhelming majority by world leaders who attended the 18th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP18), currently being held in Geneva, Switzerland.

It may be noted that the smooth-coated otter will now be listed on Appendix I of CITES which lists species threatened with extinction and prohibits commercial trade in them internationally.