Whitetip reef sharks. A proposal has been submitted to give this species, and all other members of the requiem shark family, protections under CITES.

Explainer: Why CITES matters for marine species

The following is an excerpt from an article published by China Dialogue Ocean:

This month, the world’s governments will convene in Panama for a major meeting on wildlife trade. We unpack the big points for marine species.

What is CITES?

CITES is an agreement regulating the international trade in certain species of wild animal and plant. It is thanks to CITES that international commercial trade in many high-profile wildlife products – such as big cat skins, elephant ivory and rhino horn – is banned.

CITES (or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) came into effect in 1975, with 10 signatory states (or parties). Since then, almost every country in the world has signed up, plus the European Union. CITES currently has 184 parties.

When and where will CITES CoP19 be held?

The 19th Conference of the Parties to CITES – or CoP19 – will be held in Panama City between 14 and 25 November 2022. Meetings of the convention’s Standing Committee will happen immediately before and after CoP19, also in Panama City.

What are the CITES appendices?

CITES works by listing species of wild plant and animal on one of three appendices. Appendix I is meant for those species which are threatened with extinction, and where trade is a current or potential threat to their continued existence. Any international movement of these species – or products made from them – requires permits from both the exporting and importing country. International trade for commercial purposes is not allowed. There are currently 1,082 plant and animal species on Appendix I.

Appendix II is intended for species which may not be currently threatened with extinction, but could become so if trade is not regulated. In practice, Appendix II includes many highly endangered species. By far the biggest CITES appendix, it includes 37,420 species (most of them plants). International commercial trade in these species is allowed under CITES, but requires a permit from the exporting country, after determining that the export will not harm the survival of the species, and that the specimen has been obtained legally. Permits are required from the importing country if the specimen is taken from the high seas, outside national jurisdiction.

Appendix III is used when a specific country wants to regulate trade in a given species. Whereas additions to Appendix I and II require the agreement of two-thirds of the CoP, a country can add species to Appendix III unilaterally. Export permits are then required for that species to be exported from the country.

The vast majority of wild animals and plant species – including many which are threatened – are not listed on any of the CITES appendices.

What is the CITES CoP for?

At CoPs, member states convene to decide on changes to the appendices, and to review how the CITES convention is being implemented.

Decisions and resolutions are adopted and amended. These guide the parties and the CITES Secretariat in implementing the convention on a day-to-day basis. Decisions may include the commission of studies and reviews into the trade and conservation status of various wildlife species.

What happens if a country doesn’t follow CITES rules?

The convention text requires parties to “take appropriate measures” to enforce the convention and to “prohibit trade in specimens in violation thereof”. These measures include having domestic laws to implement the convention, seizing illegally traded wildlife and punishing illegal trade, or trafficking, of CITES-listed wildlife.

If a country is found to be consistently failing to abide by CITES rules, a recommendation may be issued to other parties to suspend trade with that country of some or all CITES-listed species – in effect a trade sanction.

What marine species are on the agenda at CITES CoP19?

(continues...)

Author: Aron White / China Dialogue | Read the full article by clicking the link here

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