Profiles

Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is an agreement between 175 governments to address the significant trade in wildlife products, estimated to be worth billions of dollars annually. It includes fur, food products (including seafood), herbs, timber, jewelry and curios. Trade in certain wildlife products has brought some animal populations to the edge of extinction.

CITES entered into force in 1975 to address this threat, in order to ensure that trade in wildlife is not detrimental to species’ survival. There are over 30,000 species of plants (roughly 25,000) and animals (5,000) listed under the three Appendixes of CITES. Species are added to the Appendixes at the CITES Conference of Parties, held every two to three years. The next Conference of Parties is scheduled for March 2010 in Qatar. Only countries party to the Convention are permitted to put forward species for consideration.

Fish or aquatic species currently listed under CITES include:

• European eel, Anguilla anguilla (listed under Appendix II in 2007)
• sawfishes, Pristidae (2007 - Appendix I apart from 1 species on Appendix II)
• humphead (Napoleon) wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus (2004 - Appendix II)
• Mediterranean date mussel, Lithophaga lithophaga (2004 - Appendix II)
• white shark, Carcharodon carcharias (2004 - Appendix II)
• sea cucumber, Isostichopus fuscus (2003 - Appendix III)
• basking shark, Cetorhinus maximus (2002 - Appendix II)
• pipefishes and seahorses, Hippocampus spp (2002 - Appendix II)
• whale shark, Rhincodon typus (2002 - Appendix II)
• sturgeons and paddlefish, Acipenseriformes (1997 - Appendix II apart from 2 species on Appendix I)
• Caribbean queen conch, Strombus gigas (1994 - Appendix II)
• giant clams, Tridacnidae (1983 - Appendix II)

The three Appendixes afford varying levels of protection:

• Appendix III (300 species; lowest amount of protection) - used as a domestic measure by a country to determine the ‘country of origin’ of a wildlife product; signifies a request to other CITES member countries for help in monitoring the species.
• Appendix II (30,000 species) - represents species vulnerable to exploitation; commercial and non-commercial trade allowed via a system of permits required for export, based on a scientific finding that trade is not detrimental to the species’ survival. Includes sturgeon, stony corals, humphead wrasse, seahorses
• Appendix I - most restrictive; commercial trade is banned; species are in danger of extinction. Includes elephants, tigers, whales, manatees.

If a country is a party member to CITES, two ‘bodies’ or agencies must be formed to implement the work of the Convention - a Scientific Authority (which issues non-detriment findings for species listed under CITES) and a Management Authority (which issues any related permits based on the non-detriment finding, required for export - and often import - of CITES-listed species). In the United States, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service serves as both authorities, while the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) implements CITES in the UK. In France, the National Museum of Natural History serves as the Scientific Authority, while the Management Authority is represented by the French Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Sea (Department of Nature and Landscapes).

When talking about “commercially exploited aquatic species,” or seafood, as we like to call it, the Food and Agricultural Organization’s (FAO) activities and CITES often overlap. Until 2004, few marine species were listed under CITES in order to not interfere with the work of FAO and regional fishery management organizations (RFMO). However, the clear role trade has played in the decline of some marine species, and the general view that CITES is one of the more effective multilateral environmental treaties (MET) has meant that increasingly, more and more countries are putting species forward to be listed under CITES. This requires partnership and cooperation with a range of organizations, most notably FAO.

Both FAO and CITES have issued memorandums stating their desire to work together to overcome the challenges that are present when a marine species is listed, usually relating to a CITES member state, to effectively implement the law of CITES. Many CITES-listed marine species are highly migratory, so painting an accurate picture of the effect of trade can be a challenge. Moreover, the very global nature of the seafood industry presents a challenge in regards to CITES implementation. If a species has originated from the ‘high seas’ (i.e., not under the jurisdiction of any CITES member country), it is considered an ‘Introduction from the Sea,” requiring the Management Authority in the country where it is landed to issue an export permit based on the judgment of the country’s Scientific Authority (who may or may not have expertise on the species in question).

Ultimately, CITES, FAO, individual countries, RFMOs, the seafood industry and conservation organizations all have a role to play in ensuring the trade in fish is not detrimental to the species’ survival. The U.S. and other progressive countries recognize this. Currently, the U.S. is considering the following species for inclusion under CITES at the next Conference of Parties in March 2010:

• Nautilids (Allonautilus spp. and Nautilus spp.) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• Tope shark (Galeorhinus galeus) –Inclusion in Appendix II
• Shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrhinchus) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• Longfin mako shark (Isurus paucus) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• Porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• Freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon) – Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
• Hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna spp.) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• Requiem sharks (Carcharinidae) - Inclusion in Appendix II
• Devil and manta rays (Mobulidae) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• Freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• American eel (Anguilla rostrata) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• Northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) – Inclusion in Appendix I
• Polar bear (Ursus maritimus) – Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I
• Walrus (Odobenus rosmarus) – Inclusion in Appendix II
• Narwhal (Monodon monoceros) – Transfer from Appendix II to Appendix I

At the European level, trade rules for wild fauna and flora are the exclusive domain of the European Community. The 27 Member States must coordinate after September 2009 to decide the EU position on the various proposals submitted to the 15th Conference of the Parties. The European position will then be expressed by the Member States. Thus, France makes its own proposals and must defend them to the other EU Member States in order to reach a common position.

More information:
www.cites.org
http://www.fao.org/fishery/cites-fisheries/en

Beluga Sturgeon Photo Credit: Shannon Crownover, Caviar Emptor/Marine Photobank

Posted July 14, 2009

Return to profiles page >