FAO - CITES collaboration on international trade in Appendix-II listed sharks and rays

31st Session of the FAO Committee on Fisheries (COFI 31)

Rome, Italy, 11 June 2014

CITES objectives

Ensure that wild fauna and flora in international trade are not exploited unsustainably

Legality, sustainability, traceability

S. Heindrichs / PEW, Shark fins, China

CITES is a multilateral agreementOperates through an intergovernmental process,

which combines wildlife and trade themes within a legally binding instrument,

achieving conservation and sustainable use objectives

…by setting a common procedural mechanism

CITES coverage & scope• 180 member countries • Regulates international trade of 35,000+ listed

species (live, dead, parts and derivatives)

www. cites.org

Not all species are prohibited from trade…

Of the 35,000+ listed species…

97% Appendix II&III (regulated)

(international commercial trade in wild specimens

prohibited)

3% Appendix I

Not all listed species appear in trade…

Of the 35,000+ listed species...

4% commonly traded

1% highly traded

About 150 animal and 1,800 plant species account for 90% of CITES transactions

Commercially-exploited aquatic species in CITES Appendices

• Humphead wrasse - Appendix II• Queen conch – Appendix II• Giant clams – Appendix II• Hard corals, black corals

– Appendix II• European eel – Appendix II• Sturgeons – Appendix I & II• Seahorses – Appendix II

8Sharks/Manta rays in Appendix II

Cetorhinus maximus (Basking shark)

Manta spp. (Manta rays)

Sphyrna lewini, S.mokarran, S. zygaena

(Hammerhead sharks)

Entry into effect delayed to 14 September 2014

Lamna nasus(Porbeagle shark)

Carcharhinus longimanus (Oceanic whitetip shark)

Carcharodon carcharias(Great white shark)

Rhincodon typus(Whale shark)

What should Parties do by 14 September 2014?

Legality

National laws, legal aquisition, RFMOs, enforcement, …

Sustainability

NDFs, science, Introduction From the Sea, …

Traceability

Permits, identification, reporting, databases

Collaboration and cooperation are essential for CITES implementation

National stakeholders include:– CITES Authorities– Natural resources sector (fisheries, forestry, etc.)– Businesses (traders, wholesalers, transport, etc.)– Customs– Police– Judiciary–Others

Capacity-building for implementation of new shark and ray listings.

• European Union contribution of EUR 1.2 million [USD 1.6 million]

• Implemented in partnership with FAO• Quick wins, identification tools• Visibility: brochure, events, web portal

(cites.org/eng/prog/shark)• Regional needs assessment workshops• Follow-up actions

EU-CITES project

Technical clearance from EU in August 2013Approx. EUR 1.2million Objective:

To build scientific, legislative and administrative capacity of developing Parties to help implement new CITES-listed sharks and manta rays whose entry into effect was delayed by 18 months until 14 September 2014

EU-CITES project: Progress to date1. Working partnership with FAO – Preparatory studies – Regional consultative workshops– Joint outreach materials– Other areas of collaboration

2. Reaching out to RFMOs3. Support to Parties4. Gathering pertinent information

EU-CITES project: Accomplishments

• FAO-CITES regional consultative workshops in Africa and Asia

• Supported regional workshop in LAC, Oceania

• Representation at COFI-FT, COFI, RFMO meetings

• CITES-FAO leaflet• Joint presentation materials

EU-CITES project: Accomplishments

• CITES sharks web portal:– Species information– History, Resolutions & Decisions on shark listings– Meeting calendar– RFMO measures– Ongoing activities– Identification

materials– Other information

& tools

EU-CITES project: Next steps

• Summary and analysis from regional workshops• Planning steps for national/subregional support

activities – Focus on NDFs, legal acquisition and IFS

• FAO-CITES collaboration on– International Plan of Action (IPOA)on Sharks– National fisheries legislation support

• Further collection of identification materials

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Summary: CITES is…• Intergovernmental agreement on international

trade in wild fauna and flora• Legality, traceability, and sustainability• Legal framework & procedural mechanisms• System of permits and certificates • Inter-agency and inter-sector collaboration• Cooperation with FAO over shark and manta

ray essential

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Thank you for your attention!

CITES and FAO working for legal, sustainable and traceable international trade in sharks and manta

rays, supported by the European Union