The Turnbull government has opted out of an international pact to protect three species of threatened sharks, drawing accusations that it is undermining global conservation efforts.

A consensus agreement among almost 50 nations from Asia, Africa and Europe was reached at a gathering in the Philippines in October to add blue sharks, dusky whalers and white-spotted wedgefish to a list of sharks requiring additional protection.

Australia has opted out of an international plan to conserve three more shark species, including the blue shark (pictured).

It's now emerged Australia submitted "reservations" to the listing of the three under Appendix II of the 12th Conference of Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species, meaning the listings and associated controls will not apply within Australian waters.

Tooni Mahto, a senior campaigner with the Australian Marine Conservation Society, said the move echoed a similar decision by the Abbott government in 2014 to avoid a global commitment to protect threatened hammerhead and thresher sharks.