Johanne Fischer Fisheries and Aquaculture Department

1. Linkages between the implementation of CITES Appendix II listings and sustainable fisheries management Johanne Fischer Fisheries and Aquaculture Department

2. What is at stake? • 37% of fishery catches are exported = US$ 129 billion (2012) • Developing countries account for 60% of fish exports (quantity) • China biggest exporter > US$ 19.6 billion (2013)

3. The CITES Appendices currently include close to 100 commercially-exploited aquatic species • 8 shark species:Whale, Basking, Great white, Porbeagle, Oceanic whitetip, 3 Hammerhead Manta rays All sawfishes Sturgeons All seahorses Humphead wrasse European eel Queen conch

4. Main Areas of Collaboration with CITES • FAO Expert Advisory Panel for assessment of listing proposals to CITES concerning commercially exploited aquatic species • Assistance in relation to listed species(sharks, Caribbean queen conch, humphead wrasse, sea cucumbers, sea horses, sturgeon) • Co-organization of workshops, e.g. • Review of the Application and Effectiveness of International Regulatory Measures for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Elasmobranchs • Capacity Assessments for the Implementation of New CITES listing of Sharks and Manta Rays

5. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No. 984. 2012. FAO/CITES Workshop to Review the Application and Effectiveness of International Regulatory Measures for the Conservation and sustainable Use of Elasmobranchs. Genazzano, Italy, 19-23 July 2010

6. Some conclusions by the Genazzano workshop FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No. 984. 2012. • If properly implemented, the long-term benefits of shark catch and trade regulations extend to all sectors (ecosystems, livelihoods, markets and trade) • The effectiveness of most catch and trade measures depends on proper MCS and enforcement • Many catch and trade measures have a short-term negative impact on fishing costs, livelihoodsand markets • Most catch and trade regulations require financial investments by governments (and industry) • Most catch and trade measures greatly benefit from public education and awareness building

7. Key Messages FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No. 984. 2012. Every regulatory measure will be met with a mixed response by civil society when different groups have different interests. The media play an important role in influencing public opinion and awareness building.

8. Key Messages FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No. 984. 2012. For a species (or stock) with a broad geographic distribution, the international cooperation of States is very important to ensure that necessary management measures are applied over a sufficiently large area of the species’ or stock’s distribution

9. Key Messages FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No. 984. 2012. There is a general lack of species-specific data for catch, fishing effort and trade of sharks. ... Species identification tools(field guides and training) should be developed in colla-borationof governmental, private sector and non-governmental organizations.

10. Key Messages FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report No. 984. 2012. The listing of sharks on one of the CITES Appendices alone cannot effectively ensure their conservation without a proper fishery management scheme.

11. FAO-CITES collaboration for the implementation of recent CITES shark listings Carcharhinuslongimanus(Oceanic whitetip shark) Manta spp. (Manta rays) Sphyrna lewini, S.mokarran, S. zygaena (Hammerhead sharks) Lamna nasus (Porbeagle shark)

12. FAO-CITES collaboration for the implementation of recent CITES shark listings Orange: high priority countries Yellow: priority countries

13. FAO/CITES Workshop on Capacity Assessments for the Implementation of New CITES Listing of Sharks and Manta RaysCasablanca, Morocco, 11-13 February 2014

14. Casablanca Declaration Some important points: • Recognized the need for strengthening the regional collaboration among African countries • Recommended using the roadmap agreed by the meeting • Encouraged all countries to join and actively participate in relevant Regional Fishery Bodies

15. Casablanca Declaration - Roadmap • Public Information and Outreach (high priority) • Improve institutional arrangements for CITES Implementation (high priority) • Enforce Compliance Measures • Establish or strengthen management regimes for shark fisheries • Improve engagement of fisheries sector in CITES processes • Supporting measures for fishers’ livelihoods

16. FAO/CITES Workshop on Capacity Assessments for the Implementation of New CITES Listing of Sharks and Manta RaysXiamen, China, 13 to 15 May 2014

17. XIAMEN Declaration Some important points: • Recommend priority actions to effectively implement the new listings of sharks and manta rays • Encouraged all countries to closely collaborate with Regional Fishery Bodies and fully use existing regional wildlife enforcement networks

18. Xiamen Declaration – Action Plan • Improvement of data collection • Strengthening national legislation, enforcement (monitoring, control and surveillance) and international cooperation • Strengthening conservation and management measures • Enhancing training and capacity building/human resource development • Securing funding

19. Implementation of CITES Listings Implementation of CITES Listings It is essential for national and regional fisheries agencies and CITES authorities to work closely together. 19

20. Thank you for your attention!