Proposal 42. Colombia, Brazil and the USA proposed the Oceanic whitetip shark, Carcharhinus longimanus, for Appendix II.
The species has suffered drastic declines. Populations
of oceanic whitetip sharks have declined by >99% in the Gulf of
Mexico, and 60% to 70% in the northwest and central Pacific Ocean.
Threats to the species are bycatch in pelagic longline and driftnet
fisheries for swordfish and tuna, and the unsustainable harvest for the
international fin trade. Their fins are easily identifiable and one of
the most common shark fins in trade. The species clearly meets the
criteria for listing on Appendix II.
Speaking in favor of the proposal were delegates from Honduras,
Venezuela, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Liberia, Benin, Congo,
Guinea, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and the Bahamas, who noting shark tourism
has contributed $800 million to their local economy. Ireland on behalf
of the European Union also spoke in favor of the proposal and offered to
provide $1.2 million to assist in capacity building for the species.
The FAO stated the species meets all the scientific criteria for an
Appendix II listing.
China opposed the listing, claiming that a finning ban would be a
more effective conservation measure than an Appendix II listing. The
delegate from Singapore said they are opposing all the shark proposals.
Japan, Thailand, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada rejected
the proposal stating conservation should be handled at the regional
level. Grenada questioned the 18-month delay in implementation contained
in the proposal to allow time to iron out technical aspects, and both
the CITES Secretariat and Brazil responded they will provide any
necessary technical support to the Parties.
The Chair accepted interventions from two NGOs: Pew Environmental
Group, which spoke in support of the proposal; and IWFC, but IWFC passed
the microphone to the International Coalition of Fisheries who opposed
the proposalalthough admitting the species meets the biological criteria
for the Appendix II listing.
The Russian Federation stated that it will abstain from the vote.
Japan moved for a secret ballot and received the necessary 10 seconds for a secret ballot.
Proposals require a 2/3rds vote of the Partiess for acceptance. There
were 92 votes in favor (68.66%), 42 opposed (31.24%) with 8
abstentions.
THE OCEANIC WHITETIP SHARK PROPOSAL WAS ACCEPTED
As Reported By
Marie Levine
Executive Director
Shark Research Institute
