The FAO-CITES The FAO-CITES Relationship: A Model to Relationship: A Model to

Consider?Consider?

Kevern Cochrane, FIMFKevern Cochrane, FIMF

The Appendices: CITES ToolsThe Appendices: CITES ToolsAppendix I: species threatened with extinction. Appendix I: species threatened with extinction. Trade permitted only in exceptional Trade permitted only in exceptional circumstances.circumstances.

Appendix II: species not necessarily threatened Appendix II: species not necessarily threatened with extinction, but where trade must be with extinction, but where trade must be controlled in order to avoid utilization controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival.incompatible with their survival.

Appendix III: at request of individual countries in Appendix III: at request of individual countries in order to gain assistance from other CITES order to gain assistance from other CITES Parties in controlling the trade.Parties in controlling the trade.

Cooperation between FAO and CITES Cooperation between FAO and CITES has been growing in the last 9 years has been growing in the last 9 years and encompasses a range of activities and encompasses a range of activities of mutual interest. This presentation of mutual interest. This presentation will focus on the cooperation on the will focus on the cooperation on the CITES listing criteria and amendment CITES listing criteria and amendment proposalsproposals

Some BackgroundSome Background

CoP10, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1997CoP10, Harare, Zimbabwe, 1997 a proposal was tabled for the creation of a working a proposal was tabled for the creation of a working

group for marine fisheries. group for marine fisheries. caution that CITES criteria might not be appropriate caution that CITES criteria might not be appropriate

for exploited and managed fishery resources. for exploited and managed fishery resources.

COFI-FT, Bremen, Germany, 1998: agreed COFI-FT, Bremen, Germany, 1998: agreed FAO FAO would consider suitability of CITES criteria for would consider suitability of CITES criteria for commercially-exploited aquatic species.commercially-exploited aquatic species. Initiated on-going discussion on role of FAO, Initiated on-going discussion on role of FAO, complicated bycomplicated by differences of opinion on the role differences of opinion on the role for CITES in relation to conservation and for CITES in relation to conservation and sustainable use of commercially-exploited sustainable use of commercially-exploited aquatic speciesaquatic species

Some Concerns Expressed by FAO Some Concerns Expressed by FAO MembersMembers

Need to refine the criteria and guidelines to reflect Need to refine the criteria and guidelines to reflect the specific characteristics aquatic resources. the specific characteristics aquatic resources. Differences of opinion about the intention of Appendix Differences of opinion about the intention of Appendix II (reduce the risk of extinction and/or promote II (reduce the risk of extinction and/or promote sustainable use?). sustainable use?). Implications of the ‘look-alike’ clause.Implications of the ‘look-alike’ clause.Need to minimize unnecessary negative impact on Need to minimize unnecessary negative impact on fishing industry and communities.fishing industry and communities.Need for greater input from national fisheries Need for greater input from national fisheries agencies in elaboration of proposals and from FAO in agencies in elaboration of proposals and from FAO in evaluation of proposals.evaluation of proposals.De-listing procedures need to be objective, De-listing procedures need to be objective, responsive and flexible to cope with the resource responsive and flexible to cope with the resource variability. variability.

Nevertheless,Nevertheless,““Some delegations expressed the view that Some delegations expressed the view that

CITES could provide a useful instrument, CITES could provide a useful instrument, complementary to traditional fisheries complementary to traditional fisheries management, in protecting fishery management, in protecting fishery resources from extinction and in promoting resources from extinction and in promoting their sustainable use.” their sustainable use.”

e.g. queen conche.g. queen conch

MilestonesMilestonesFebruary 2002: FAO approved February 2002: FAO approved recommendations for changes to CITES listing recommendations for changes to CITES listing criteria.criteria.July 2004: FAO convened ad hoc Expert July 2004: FAO convened ad hoc Expert Advisory Panel to evaluate listing proposals to Advisory Panel to evaluate listing proposals to CoP-13 for fishery speciesCoP-13 for fishery speciesOctober 2004 (CoP-13): October 2004 (CoP-13): CITES adopted revised criteria including main FAO CITES adopted revised criteria including main FAO

recommendations;recommendations; CITES received and considered recommendations CITES received and considered recommendations

from advisory Panel.from advisory Panel.

October 2006. MOU between CITES and FAO October 2006. MOU between CITES and FAO signed after 3½ years of negotiations.signed after 3½ years of negotiations.March 2007. FAO ad hoc Advisory Panel will March 2007. FAO ad hoc Advisory Panel will meet to consider 7 proposals to CoP-14. meet to consider 7 proposals to CoP-14.

THE BASIS OF FAO RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE BASIS OF FAO RECOMMENDATIONS ON CRITERIA: STOCK SIZE vs RECRUITMENTCRITERIA: STOCK SIZE vs RECRUITMENT

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1

Stock

Re

cru

itm

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Resilience: the ability to Resilience: the ability to rebound after perturbationrebound after perturbation

RESILIENCERESILIENCE is related to is related to PRODUCTIVITYPRODUCTIVITY

HIGH PRODUCTIVITYHIGH PRODUCTIVITY==HIGH RESILIENCEHIGH RESILIENCE

PRODUCTIVITYPRODUCTIVITY is related to is related to::FECUNDITY FECUNDITY GROWTH RATE GROWTH RATE NATURAL MORTALITY NATURAL MORTALITY AGE OF MATURITY AGE OF MATURITY LONGEVITY LONGEVITY

APPENDIX 1A : SMALL APPENDIX 1A : SMALL POPULATION SIZEPOPULATION SIZE

PRODUCTIVITY

0

20

40

60

80

100

LowMed.High

EX

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CL

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CONSIDERATION FOR APPENDIX 1

Appendix II : quantitative (decline) Appendix II : quantitative (decline) criterioncriterion

Consideration could be given to listing on Consideration could be given to listing on Appendix II if:Appendix II if:

the current extent-of-decline is below 50% ANDthe current extent-of-decline is below 50% AND

the recent-rate-of-decline will reduce the the recent-rate-of-decline will reduce the population to below the Appendix I ‘extent’ population to below the Appendix I ‘extent’ criterion within 10 years ANDcriterion within 10 years AND

the decline has been measured over a the decline has been measured over a reasonable period (e.g. 10 years) or where reasonable period (e.g. 10 years) or where evidence that decline is continuingevidence that decline is continuing

Quantitative Assessment and Quantitative Assessment and Rigorous EvaluationRigorous Evaluation

Need for quantitative assessments Need for quantitative assessments whenever possible (otherwise whenever possible (otherwise qualitative integrated assessment) and qualitative integrated assessment) and that results from those more informative that results from those more informative than simpler criteria or single indices...than simpler criteria or single indices...

Contested proposals should undergo Contested proposals should undergo objective scientific evaluation leading to objective scientific evaluation leading to agreed report which includes all agreed report which includes all defensible views and interpretations.defensible views and interpretations.

CITES Article XV 2(b): External CITES Article XV 2(b): External AdviceAdvice

For marine species, the Secretariat shall... also For marine species, the Secretariat shall... also consult inter-governmental bodies having a consult inter-governmental bodies having a function in relation to those species especially function in relation to those species especially with a view to obtaining scientific data these with a view to obtaining scientific data these bodies may be able to provide and to ensuring bodies may be able to provide and to ensuring co-ordination with any conservation measures co-ordination with any conservation measures enforced by such bodies. enforced by such bodies. The Secretariat shall communicate the views The Secretariat shall communicate the views expressed and data provided by these bodies expressed and data provided by these bodies and its own findings and recommendations to and its own findings and recommendations to the Parties as soon as possible. the Parties as soon as possible.

Terms of Reference of the FAO PanelTerms of Reference of the FAO PanelThe Panel shall be established by the FAO The Panel shall be established by the FAO Secretariat....according to its standard rules and Secretariat....according to its standard rules and procedures procedures members shall participate in the Panel in their personal members shall participate in the Panel in their personal capacitycapacitywill consist of a core group (<= 10) supplemented ... by will consist of a core group (<= 10) supplemented ... by up to 10 specialists on the species being considered up to 10 specialists on the species being considered ..the Panel shall:..the Panel shall:

assess each proposal from a scientific perspective assess each proposal from a scientific perspective comment...on technical aspects in relation to biology, ecology, comment...on technical aspects in relation to biology, ecology,

trade and management issues, as well as...likely effectiveness trade and management issues, as well as...likely effectiveness for conservationfor conservation

the Panel will consider the information in the proposal the Panel will consider the information in the proposal and any additional information received from FAO and any additional information received from FAO Members and relevant RFMOs. Members and relevant RFMOs. The report shall be distributed to all FAO members and The report shall be distributed to all FAO members and the CITES Secretariat with a request they distribute it to the CITES Secretariat with a request they distribute it to all CITES Parties.all CITES Parties.

The Decision ProcessThe Decision Process

Listing proposalssubmitted to CITES

CITES Secretariatinforms FAO

FAO convenes Expert Panel

Expert Panel Reportdistributed to FAO and

CITES members

CITES Parties vote on Proposal

(66% majority)

FAO invites comment from Members and

RFBs

The Outcome of CoP-13The Outcome of CoP-13

SpeciesSpecies Panel Panel Recommend.Recommend.

CITESCITES

DecisionDecision

White sharkWhite shark UnclearUnclear ListList

Humphead Humphead wrassewrasse

Would benefit from Would benefit from listinglisting

ListList

Mediterranean Mediterranean date musseldate mussel

Does not meet Does not meet biological criteriabiological criteria

ListList

The FAO-CITES Relationship: A The FAO-CITES Relationship: A Model to Consider?Model to Consider?

Very good progress has been made but Very good progress has been made but much work still needs to be done, much work still needs to be done, including in reconciliation of different views including in reconciliation of different views and opinions.and opinions.