U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Summary of Outcomes

Coral Reef Issues at the 12th

Meeting of the Conference of the

Parties to CITES

Sea cucumber

Basking shark

Whale shark

Seahorse

Introduction

The Convention on International Trade in

Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and

Flora (CITES) is an agreement to ensure

that international trade in certain species

of wildlife does not threaten their survival.

Species regulated under CITES are listed

on one of three appendices, each providing

different levels of control and monitoring.

There was unprecedented interest in

marine species at the most recent Meeting

of the Conference of the Parties to CITES

(COP12) in November 2002. The COP12

agenda included proposals to list toothfish,

seahorses, humphead wrasse and certain

sharks on the appendices. The CITES

Parties also considered several marine

mammal proposals, a discussion paper on

sea cucumbers, and a paper promoting a

memorandum of understanding between

CITES and the Food and Agriculture

Organization (FAO) on matters related to

commercial fisheries.

All Seahorses To Be Listed On CITES

Appendix II

The United States submitted a proposal to

list all 32 species of seahorses (genus

Hippocampus) on Appendix II of CITES

at COP12. Dialogue on the status of

seahorses has been ongoing in CITES for

several years. The United States and

Australia submitted a discussion paper on

the conservation status and trade in

seahorses and other sygnathids at COP11

in April, 2000. Discussions at COP11 lead to

a technical workshop to consider and

review biological and trade information on

sygnathids. Workshop participants

endorsed the need for a CITES AppendixII listing. Seahorses are vulnerable due to

their low reproductive potential, complex

reproductive cycles, and habitat

degradation. The seahorse listing proposal

was adopted at COP12, but does not go into

effect until May 2004. The 18-month delay

allows time to work with partners in state

and foreign governments to ensure the

continuation of a legal, sustainable

seahorse trade under the Appendix-II

listing.

More Study For Sea Cucumbers

The United States submitted a discussion

document on the conservation of and trade

in sea cucumbers for COP12. Harvest

pressure on these species has increased

alarmingly in recent years due to growing

international demand. The discussion

document recommended a technical

workshop to evaluate the status of sea

cucumbers and to consider appropriate

conservation measures, including regional

management, domestic fisheries controls,

and possible future CITES listing. Japan,

supported by Cuba, China, and Malaysia,

opposed any action by the CITES Parties,

considering the topic to fall under the

jurisdiction of FAO and other fisheries

organizations. However, the majority of

CITES Parties accepted the U.S.

recommendation for a technical workshop

and directed the CITES Animals

Committee to prepare a discussion paper

for COP13 on biological and trade status

and conservation needs. Topics for

discussion at the workshop include

identification of dried specimens in trade,

appropriate monitoring protocols, and

effective fishery management approaches.

The United States will be an active

participant in this issue through final

report submission at COP13.

Humphead Wrasse Listing Proposal Fails

With strong support from other countries,

the United States introduced its proposal

to list the humphead wrasse (Cheilinus

undulatus) on CITES Appendix II. The

humphead wrasse is one of the largest

coral reef fishes, growing to more than 2

meters in length and living more than 30

years. It is heavily exploited for the live

reef food fish trade, which supplies luxury

restaurants in Hong Kong and other Asian

markets. Declines or extirpations have

been reported throughout the species’

range from the Red Sea to the South
Humphead wrasse

Pacific shortly after commercial fisheries

have begun. Although the proposal failed to

achieve a two-thirds majority, with 65 in

favor, 42 against, and 5 abstentions, the

majority approval shows there is broad

interest. The United States plans to

consult with other Pacific countries and

pursue ways to keep the live reef food fish

trade and humphead wrasse at the

forefront of CITES discussions.

Whale & Basking Sharks Listed On CITES

Appendix II

Concern over the conservation status of

sharks has been evident in CITES for

many years. Characteristics of the biology

of these animals, particularly their late age

at maturity and low productivity, make

them vulnerable to over-exploitation. The

United States submitted a discussion

paper at COP9 (1994) that resulted in a

resolution calling for collection and review

of biological and trade data on sharks. A

series of decisions taken at COP10 (1997)

and COP11(2000) promoted sustainable

management of sharks, including

encouraging initiation of national

management plans for sharks and efforts

to reduce by-catch mortality. At COP12,

India, the Philippines, and Madagascar

proposed an Appendix II-listing for the

whale shark (Rhincodon typus). The

United Kingdom, on behalf of the European

Union, proposed the basking shark

(Cetorhinus maximus) for Appendix II.

When introduced in committee, both shark

proposals lost by very narrow margins on

secret ballots. However, they were reintroduced in the plenary session where

they received the needed two-thirds

majority and were adopted. In addition, a

resolution was adopted at COP12 directing

the CITES Animals Committee to

continue monitoring the conservation

status of sharks, as well as the progress by

FAO and individual countries to implement

Plans of Action for shark conservation.

CITES Parties were urged to improve

their shark management programs and

their capacity for monitoring trade. The

whale shark and basking shark listings will

become effective in February 2003.

Increased Global Cooperation on Marine

Species

A document submitted jointly by the

United States and Japan at COP12

resulted in a decision directing the CITES

Standing Committee to work with the FAO

to draft a memorandum of understanding

between the two organizations. The

complementary mandates of CITES and

FAO were recognized, as well as the value

of facilitating exchange of information

regarding commercially exploited aquatic

species.

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

International Affairs

Division of Management Authority

4401 N. Fairfax Drive, Room 700

Arlington, VA 22203

703/358-2104 or 800/358-2104

Fax 703/358-2281

e-mail: managementauthority@fws.gov

http://international.fws.gov

http://permits.fws.gov

Spring 2003