greenpeace - while stocks last

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While stocks last 1

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Internatio

nalWhile stocks last...

Greenpeace recommendationsto ensure they do

March 2010


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2 While stocks last

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Greenpeace/Roger GraceDesigned by

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March 2010JN 305

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Introduction

Since entering into force in July 1975, the Conention on International Trade in EndangeredSpecies of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) has grown from 10 original Parties to include175 Parties today, making it one of the most widely accepted of all enironmental treaties.It is also one of the most successful. Unlike many other enironmental agreements,CITES establishes specic and clearly dened rules, supported by concrete mechanisms

for monitoring and enforcing compliance, including temporary trade sanctions. Thesemechanisms and the fact there is nearly uniersal participation in the Conention sets CITESapart from other wildlife treaties. The Conention is indispensable to protecting species fromoerexploitation from international trade and in discouraging illegal trade. At its 15th Meeting,

the Conference of the Parties to CITES (COP 15) will decide upon 42 Appendix listingproposals. Many more species will also be affected by the scores of proposed decisions andresolutions under consideration at COP 15.

This CITES meeting is particularly important for the worlds marine resources. The worldsoceans are in crisis, with more than 40% heavily degraded, and over three quarters of sh

stocks either overshed or severely depleted. This crisis has been compounded by the

failure of existing organisations to ensure effectie ocean conseration and management. Itis not too late to sae our oceans, to shift the balance of human impacts from damage andharm to protection and conseration. CITES COP 15 offers a real chance to set us on thatroad to recoery.

This brieng outlines Greenpeaces recommendations for a number of key marine proposals

being discussed at this years meeting.

The last few decades of industrial shing have signicantly eroded marine biodiversity and

hae had a deastating impact on the abundance of large predatory species. The currentregulatory framework and, in particular, the poor performance of many regional sheries

management organisations (RFMOs) has resulted in large decreases in the abundance ofspecies such as sharks, rays and marine turtles, as well as many important commercialspecies. Decades of overshing, overcapacity and extremely high levels of illegal shing

have, for example, led to a severe decrease in the Atlantic bluen tuna population, one of the

most aluable tuna species in the world. The crisis has been compounded by poor marinegovernance and lack of adequate trade controls. Ever-increasing demand for bluen tuna on

international markets has led to widespread rejection of scientic recommendations to limit

shing quotas by the very institutions mandated to protect the species.

Listing of commercial sh species under CITES would signicantly increase the ability of

nations to monitor and regulate their harest and trade. CITES listings are also a powerfultool in combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) shing, providing support

to and complementing national, regional and international sheries conservation and

management measures.


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03While stocks last

ActNowandSave

Millions

Proposal/Document Proponent Species Greenpeace position

Proposal 15 Palau and the US Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini)Great Hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran)Smooth Hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena)Sandbar Shark(Carcharhinus plumbeus)Dusky Shark(Carcharhinus obscurus)

Support

Proposal 16 Palau and the US Oceanic Whitetip Shark(Carcharhinus longimanus) Support

Proposal 17 Palau and Sweden (onbehalf of the MemberStates of the EuropeanCommunity)

Porbeagle (Lamna nasus) Support

Proposal 18 Palau and Sweden (onbehalf of the MemberStates of the EuropeanCommunity)

Spiny Dogfsh (Squalus acanthias) Support

Proposal 19 Monaco Northern Bluefn Tuna (Thunnus thynnus) Support

Proposal 21 Sweden (on behalf of the Member States ofthe European Community)and the US

Pink and Red Coral Coralliidae(Corallium spp. and Paracorallium spp.)

Support

Summary of Greenpeace

recommendations for COP 15

GREENPEACE/GAvINNEWMAN


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04 While stocks last

PROPOSAL 15

Recommendation: support Appendix II listing

The goernments of Palau and the US haeproposed to include the scalloped hammerhead

shark in Appendix II. The great hammerheadshark, the smooth hammerhead shark, thesandbar shark and the dusky shark are alsobeing proposed for Appendix II listing forlook-alike reasons. The proposal includes thefollowing annotation: The entry into effect ofthe inclusion of these species in Appendix II of

CITES will be delayed by 18 months to enable

Parties to resolve the related technical and

administrative issues.

The scalloped hammerhead is commonly foundin almost all coastal waters of warm temperateand tropical seas across the world. Scallopedhammerheads aerage 3 metres in size, thoughmature females can grow as large as 4 metres.Following a gestation period of between 9 and10 months, scalloped hammerheads bear lieyoung. Overexploitation has led to a signicant

decrease in the population size of the scallopedhammerhead. The species is categorised asEndangered in the IUCN Red List (2009).

The greatest threat to scalloped hammerheadscomes from sheries. The species is both a

target species targeted particularly for its highvalue ns and a victim of bycatch. Juveniles

are often captured in shing gear and adults

taken in gillnets and longlines. The speciesaggregating habit makes them easy prey forshermen targeting large catches. Catches

often go unreported or are grouped with otherhammerhead sharks. Hammerhead shark ns

are highly alued in international trade, especiallyin the n markets of East Asia. The ns are highly

prized, but the alue of the meat is low oftenleading to the extremely wasteful practice of

nning where the ns are cut off and the restof the shark is thrown back into the ocean,dead or dying.

Scalloped Hammerhead(Sphyrna lewini)

Great Hammerhead(Sphyrna mokarran)

Smooth Hammerhead(Sphyrna zygaena)

Sandbar Shark(Carcharhinus plumbeus)

Dusky Shark(Carcharhinus obscurus)


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The current exploitation leels of the scallopedhammerhead far exceed sustainable leels,meaning that the species meets the criteria forlisting on CITES Appendix II. The FAO Ad HocExpert Panel assessing the shark proposals alsoconcluded that the aailable eidence supportsthe proposal to include S. lewiniin CITES

Appendix II, along with, as look-alike species,the great hammerhead shark and smoothhammerhead shark. The Panel concluded that

that there is insufcient look-alike evidence tosupport listing the sandbar shark and duskyshark. Howeer, Greenpeace beliees, that thesimilar appearance of the ns of all ve speciesin the Proposal means that they should all belisted on Appendix II.

Currentexploitation

levelsofthescalloped

hammerheadfarexceed

sustainablelevels,mean

ing

thatthespeciesmeetst

he

criteriaforlistingonCIT

ES

AppendixII.

The ns of the ve species in this proposal are

all highly traded and difcult for non-experts to

identify to species leel. Howeer, the shape,size and high needle (cartilage) count meansit is possible for customs ofcials to be trained

to distinguish the ns of these species from

others not coered by this proposal. Geneticidentication tools are also available, though these

are not suitable for routine customs checks. The18-month grace period before the listing comes

into effect should allow sufcient time for anydifculties to be resolved and for identication and

enforcement systems to be implemented.

Listing the species under CITES would create acritical tool to promote regional cooperation inthe conseration and management measuresof the species. It would also support the FAOInternational Plan of Action for the Conserationand Management of Sharks.

GREENPEACE/ROGERGRACE


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Oceanic WhitetipShark(Carcharhinus longimanus)

PROPOSAL 16


The goernments of Palau and the US hae

proposed to include the oceanic whitetip sharkin Appendix II with the following annotation: Theentry into effect of the inclusion of these species

in Appendix II of CITES will be delayed by 18

months to enable Parties to resolve the related

technical and administrative issues.

The oceanic whitetip is a large pelagic shark thatlies in the deep open water of tropical and warmtemperate seas. While its large high-value ns

are a prized chief ingredient of shark n soup,

the low alue of its meat means the species is avictim of widespread nning. While data on the

species are sparse, where aailable they showthat populations are in steep decline. The oceanicwhitetip shark has been categorised by IUCN(2009) as vulnerable globally, and as CriticallyEndangered in the Northwest and WesternCentral Atlantic. If data were aailable from otherareas, howeer, it is likely the species would meetthe denition of Critically Endangered throughout

most of its range.

As the n trade is largely responsible for the

decline of the oceanic whitetip, the species

qualies for listing on CITES Appendix II.Furthermore, the FAO Ad Hoc Expert Panelassessing the shark proposals concludes that,on balance, the aailable eidence supportsthe proposal to include C. longimanus in CITES

Appendix II.

The oceanic whitetip is easy to distinguish fromother shark species because of the distinctiewhite tips on its rounded ns. There are a few

other shark species with white-tipped ns,

but as these are far less common in trade,implementation and enforcement should notbe difcult. Genetic identication tools are also

aailable. The 18-month grace period before thelisting of this species comes into effect will allowsufcient time for any difculties to be resolved

and identication and enforcement systems to be

implemented.

A CITES listing on Appendix II would help ensurethat the current commercial trade does notreduce populations to such critical leels that thespecies would warrant an Appendix I listing.

Porbeagle Shark(Lamna nasus)

PROPOSAL 17


The goernments of Palau and Sweden (onbehalf of the EU) hae proposed the inclusionof the porbeagle shark in Appendix II with the

following annotation: The entry into effect of theinclusion of Lamna nasus in Appendix II of CITESwill be delayed by 18 months to enable Parties

to resolve related technical and administrative

issues, such as the possible designation of an

additional Management Authority and adoption of

Customs codes.

The porbeagle shark is a large warm-bloodedshark found in the temperate waters of the

Atlantic and South Pacic. The species is

endangered and subject to oerexploitationfor trade. Global demand for the porbeagles

high value meat and ns drives heavyinternational trade in the species, taken inboth directed and bycatch sheries. Like other

apex predators, the porbeagle has biologicalcharacteristics that make it particularly ulnerableto oerexploitation, including late-maturationand low reproductie rates.

Oerexploitation has led the species to declinethroughout its range. The 2009 IUCN RedList classies the global porbeagle population

as Vulnerable. The species is also classied

as Critically Endangered in the NortheastAtlantic and the Mediterranean, Endangeredin the Northwest Atlantic and Near Threatenedin the Southern Ocean. The North Atlantictarget sheries for the porbeagle have been

unsustainable for decades. Stocks hae beenseerely depleted, with landings falling fromthousands of metric tonnes per year to a fewhundred oer a period of less than 50 years. InDecember 2009, the Council of the EuropeanUnion agreed on azero Total Allowable Catch for porbeaglesharks in 2010.

Both the Northern and Southern Hemispherestocks clearly meet the criteria for Appendix IIlisting. The FAO Ad Hoc Expert Panel assessingthe shark proposals also concluded that theaailable eidence supports the proposal toinclude L. nasus, in CITES Appendix II. An

Appendix II listing would ll an important gap

in the management of the porbeagle and helpensure future international trade is not detrimentalto its surial. The 18-month grace period wouldallow time to set in place the necessary screening

techniques and identication guides for the meatand ns of this species.


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07While stocks last

Spiny Dogfsh(Squalus acanthias)

PROPOSAL 18


The goernments of Palau and Sweden (onbehalf of the EU) hae proposed the inclusion ofthe spiny dogsh in Appendix II with the following

Inclusion annotation: The entry into effect ofthe inclusion of Squalus acanthias in AppendixII of CITES will be delayed by 18 months to

enable Parties to resolve related technical and

administrative issues, such as the development

of stock assessments and collaborative

management agreements for shared stocks

and the possible designation of an additional

Scientic or Management Authority.

The spiny dogsh is a small, migratory shark

found in temperate shelf seas worldwide. Aswith a number of other shark species it is subject

to heavy shing pressure to feed internationaldemand for its meat, ns and oil. The biology

of the spiny dogsh makes it vulnerable to

oerexploitation. It is a late maturing species with

a low reproductie rate and long gestationperiod. Its ulnerability is increased byseasonal aggregations of reproductiefemales that result in shing effort being

concentrated on the most biologically aluableindiiduals. Oerexploitation by targetedsheries as well as bycatch and unregulated

trade are seriously threatening this species.

Data trends show signicant declines in

populations. These declines are drien bydemand for spiny dogsh meat in international

trade. Spiny dogsh is widely and popularly

consumed, particularly in Europe, for example,in sh-and chips meals in the UK.

IUCN classies the Northeast Atlantic

subpopulation as Critically Endangered,the Northwest Atlantic, Northwest Pacic

and Mediterranean as Endangered, and thesubpopulations of the Northeast Pacic, Black

Sea and South American as vulnerable.

Some States hae adopted catch quotas forthis species, and some target sheries have

been closed. In December 2009, the Councilof the European Union agreed to a 90%reduction in Total Allowable Catch for spinydogsh for the year 2010, leaving a 10%

allowance for bycatch. Howeer, there are eryfew regional and international measures toensure proper conseration and managementof the species.

The recent rapid rate of decline of the

species means it meets CITES guidelines forthe application of decline to commercially

exploited aquatic species. Listing of thisspecies on Appendix II will ensure thatinternational trade is regulated, accuratelyrecorded, and not detrimental to the surialof wild populations. As with the porbeagleshark, the 18-month grace period would allowtime to set in place the necessary screeningtechniques and identication guides of this

species meat and ns.

Asthefntradeislargelyresponsibleforthedeclineoftheoceanicwhitetip,thespeciesqualifesforlistingonCITESAppendixII.

GREENPEACE/ALExHOFFORD


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Bluefn Tuna(Thunnus thynnus)

PROPOSAL 19Recommendation: Support AppendixI listing

The goernment of Monaco has proposed theinclusion of northern bluen tuna in Appendix I.

The proposal would be accompanied by aConference resolution (COP15 Doc52 (Re.1))that would mandate the Animals Committeeof the Conention to reiew the status of theEast Atlantic and Mediterranean stock and theWest Atlantic stock ofThunnus thynnus in lightof any interening actions at the InternationalCommission for the Conseration of Atlantic

Tunas (ICCAT). The Animals Committeecan also, if warranted, ask the DepositaryGoernment (Switzerland) to submit a proposalto a subsequent COP to downlist the species to

Appendix II, or remoe it from the Appendices.Bluen tuna is large, highly migratory and

gregarious, preying on small schooling shes

such as anchoies and squids. Oceanic butseasonally coming close to shore, bluen

can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.There are two known spawning regions forthe northern bluen tuna: the Gulf of Mexico

and the Mediterranean Sea. Adult bluen tuna

concentrates in these areas, between mid-April and mid-June in the Gulf of Mexico, andfrom the end of May until the end of June in theMediterranean Sea. The Northern bluen tuna

population is managed according to its diision intwo stocks, the Eastern and the Western stock.

In2008,anindependent

reviewcommissioned

byICCATitselfcalled

themanagementof

thetunafsheryaninternationa

ldisgrace


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09While stocks last

GREENPEACE/GAvINNEWMANBluen, one of the most prized tuna species

worldwide, is the target of important sheries on

both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, including theGulf of Mexico and the Mediterranean Sea. Thebulk of bluen is exported to Japan, where it is

consumed as sushi and sashimi. Bluen tuna

has suffered such substantial population declinesthat it is now a threatened species. The bluen

tuna crisis is the result of eer-increasing globaldemand for the sh on the international markets

and gross mismanagement of the species bythose organisations mandated to protect it.

A depleted species

In their most recent assessment (2008) ICCATscientists showed the breeding stock of theEastern bluen tuna population had declined

from slightly aboe 300,000 tonnes in 1955to just 78,700 tonnes in 2007. The bulk of thisdecline has occurred in recent years, and thetrend is corroborated by the dramatic decline

of the mean size of sh caught. Experts predictthat even under a complete shing ban there are

signicant chances that the stock will continue to

decline to record lows. Continuing exploitation ofthe stock at current shing mortalities is expected

to drie the spawning stock biomass of theEastern stock to ery low leels, about 18% ofthe 1970 level and 6% of the unshed level. The

present combination of high shery mortality,

low spawning stock biomass and severe shing

overcapacity results in a high risk of sheries and

stock collapse.

The corresponding analysis for the West Atlanticstock estimated its spawning stock biomassin 2007 at 8,693 tonnes, compared to 49,482tonnes estimated for 1970. This suggests an82.4% decline oer the 38 year period. Sincethen, spawning stock biomass has remainedrelatiely stable at approximately 15-18% of itspre-exploitation biomass1.

Assessments of the decline ofbluefn tuna population in relation

to the CITES criteria

In October 2009, the ICCAT Scientic Committee

on Research and Statistics (SCRS) conducted anevaluation of the status of the Atlantic bluen tuna

population with respect to the CITES biologicallisting criteria. It concluded that there is a greaterthan 95% probability that the population of

Atlantic bluen tuna (both Western and Easternstocks) is at a leel below 15% of the historicalbaseline. Such a conclusion means the speciesfully qualies for inclusion in CITES Appendix I2.

The FAO Ad Hoc Expert Panel also assessedthe bluen tuna proposal, and stated: a majority

of the panel agreed that the available evidence

supports the proposal listing under CITES

Appendix I of Atlantic bluen tuna and laterhighlighted that an Appendix I listing would be

likely to reduce the bluen catches from both

component populations. This would assist toensure that recent unsustainable catches in the

east Atlantic and Mediterranean are reduced.3

Mismanagement of the species

This critical situation is the result of the abjectand repeated failure of ICCAT, and its contractingparties to ensure sustainable management ofthe shery. Ever increasing levels of IUU shing

are also contributing to the crisis, oer the lastdecade the Mediterranean bluen tuna shery

has seen real catches as high as twice the totalallowable catch in recent years. There has beensome limited progress recently, but far moreis needed to effectively tackle IUU shing and

overcapacity in this shery.

In 2008, an independent reiew panel appointedby ICCAT itself called the management of thetuna shery an international disgrace and

recommended an immediate closure of thebluen tuna shery, as this would be the only

way to stop the continuation of what is seen byobserers and by other contracting parties as a

travesty in sheries management.

In the same year, in response to concerns aboutthe poor status of the bluen tuna, the IUCN

passed a Resolution (N4.028) stating that thestock is in imminent danger of collapse, urgingits members to adopt measures to safeguardbluen tuna stocks in the Eastern Atlantic.

A CITES listing would signicantly reduce

pressure on the species. While the listing is inforce, countries could use the time to adapt their

eets to the reduced catches and shing seasonsrequired. ICCAT members could also use thetime to improe their monitoring, control andsureillance capabilities.

1 Report of the 2008 Atlantic Bluen Tuna StockAssessment Session. Madrid, Spain. 23 June to4 July, 2008.

2 Extension of the 2009 SCRS Meeting to Considerthe Status of Atlantic Bluen Tuna Populationswith Respect to CITES Biological Listing Criteria.Madrid, Spain. 21-23 October, 2009.

3 Preliminary Summary of the FAO Ad Hoc ExpertAdisory Panel. December 2009. Aailable atwww.fao.org/user_upload/newsroom/docs/panel_preliminary_summary.pdf


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While stocks last10

Pink and RedCoral Coralliidae(Corallium spp. and Paracorallium spp.)

PROPOSAL 21Recommendation: support AppendixII listing

The goernments of Sweden (on behalf of theEU) and the US hae proposed the listing of pinkand red coral Coralliidae, including all speciesin the family, in Appendix II with the followingannotation: The entry into effect of the inclusionof species in the family Coralliidae in Appendix II

of CITES will be delayed by 18 months to enable

Parties to resolve the related technical and

administrative issues.

Red and pink corals of the genus Corallium arethe most highly alued of all precious corals,

and hae been harested for jewellery and otherproducts for thousands of years. The combinedpressures of oerexploitation, habitat destructionand climate change pose a growing threat tothese species. The most immediate of theseforces is trade and therefore EU goernmentsand the US propose to include all red and pinkcorals in CITES Appendix II.

Oer 30 species of red and pink corals arefound in tropical, subtropical and temperatewaters worldwide at depths ranging from 7 to1,500 metres. Corallium species are extremelylong-lied and slow-growing, with life spansof 75-100 years and a growth rate of lessthan 1cm a yearthese characteristics makethem particularly ulnerable to oerexploitation.Populations large enough for commercialexploitation are found only in the Mediterraneanand western Pacic Ocean. Currently, there are

no international trade control or managementmeasures for this species.

Thousands of kilograms of red and pink coralsenter the multi-billion dollar international trade

each year in a ariety of forms, including wholecolonies, fragments, beads and stones, jewellery,and powders and pills for use in herbal remedies.High quality specimens fetch up to $50 USdollars a gram, and coral necklaces commandup to $25,000. The US, the largest consumer ofprecious corals, imported more than 26 millionworked pieces between 2001 and 2008 alone.

This high-alue, high-olume trade createstremendous economic incenties to strip-mineknown coral stands and a race to exploit newstands quickly when they are found. As a result,Corallium sheries follow a classic boom and bust

cycle in which new populations are discoeredthen rapidly exhausted, and exploitation shifts toa new area.

Overshing for corals is compounded by the

ways in which sheries operate. Coralliumcolonies form an important structural componentin deep sea ecosystems, proiding feeding,spawning and resting grounds for a wide range ofmarine invertebrates and shes. Most corals are

harested using heay dredges that completelydestroy coral structures and the surroundingocean oor, resulting in tremendous waste of

targeted corals and other marine life. Theseimpacts are worsened by the use of the samedredge and bottom trawl gear in food sheries

where corals are found. Although protectiemeasures limiting gear types hae been adoptedin some areas, no protection measures exist at allfor international waters.

Coralliums vulnerability to overshing is also

increased by climate change. Numerous studiesshow how climate change will increase coralsusceptibility to diseases and bleaching, furtherincreasing pressure from overshing and limiting

their chances of recoery. The studies alsohighlight the growing impacts of climate changeon other commercially traded corals, and theimmediate need to take those impacts into

account in management decisions.

The myriad threats facing Corallium and othercorals means that inclusion of these species in

Appendix II is critical to ensure that long-termsurial is not further jeopardised by internationaltrade. The 18-month delay in implementationof the listing would allow Parties to address anyrelated technical and administratie issues.


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TheUS,thelargestconsumerofpreciouscorals,importedmorethan26millionworkedpiecesbetween2001and2008.

Founded in 1946, the International WhalingCommission (IWC) is the global body mandatedto manage whale stocks. At CITES COP 4,(Botswana, 1983), CITES agreed to list all whaletypes for which the IWC had set a zero quotaon Appendix I of the Conention. In 1986, azero quota for all species of great whalescame into effect.

In recent years CITES has been forced to discuss- and has rejected - numerous proposals todownlist whales. These proposals hae been putforward by pro-whaling IWC member states in thehope of strengthening their position at the IWC,with the aim of oerturning the commercial ban.

At the time of publication of this brieng, there

was a recommendation by the CITES Secretariatto delete Decision 14.81 which reads No

periodic review of any great whale, including the

n whale, should occur while the moratorium by

the International Whaling Commission is in place.

If this recommendation has not been withdrawnby the start of CITES COP15 then it must berejected, and the wording of Decision 14.81retained.

To delete Decision 14.81 would be wrong whilethe condition under which it operates the IWCmoratorium remains in effect. The Decisionmust be allowed to stand as it is or should beincorporated into Res Conf 14.8, which coersperiodic reiew of the CITES Appendices.

The IWC is now discussing its future direction.Unless the IWC sets non-zero quotas forcommercial whaling, CITES should not considerany easing of trade restrictions on whales.

Great WhalesDESISION 14.81 MUST BE RETAINED

GREENPEACE/PAULH

ILTON

GREENPEACE/MA

RCOCARE


12/12

12greenpeace org

Greenpeace is an independent globalcampaigning organisation that actsto change attitudes and behaiour,to protect and consere theenironment and topromote peace.

Greenpeace International

Ottho Heldringstraat 5The NetherlandsTel: +31 20 7182000Fax: +31 20 7182002

GREENPEACE/GAvINNEWMAN

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