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Queen Conch (Queen Conch (Strombus gigasStrombus gigas): ): A A CITESCITES--FisheriesFisheries Success Story Success Story

Nancy K. DavesNancy K. DavesNOAA FisheriesNOAA Fisheries

Office of International AffairsOffice of International Affairs

Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries InstituteSanta Marta, Colombia

CITESCITES BasicsBasics

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CITES BasicsCITES Basics

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• Appendix IIAppendix II: species vulnerable to : species vulnerable to overexploitation, but not at risk of extinction; overexploitation, but not at risk of extinction;

• regulated trade allowed with export permitsregulated trade allowed with export permits

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Before issuing an export permit for an Appendix II Before issuing an export permit for an Appendix II species, two findings must be made:species, two findings must be made:

• That the specimen was legally acquired;That the specimen was legally acquired;• That the export will not be detrimental to the That the export will not be detrimental to the

species survival in the wild.species survival in the wild.

CITES Appendix II: CITES Appendix II: How it worksHow it works

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CITES Appendix II is:CITES Appendix II is:

• NOT a list of species in whichNOT a list of species in whichinternational trade is prohibited.international trade is prohibited.

CITES Appendix-II species may be traded CITES Appendix-II species may be traded internationally if accompanied by appropriate internationally if accompanied by appropriate permits. It helps regulate and monitorpermits. It helps regulate and monitortrade for species vulnerable to overusetrade for species vulnerable to overuse

CITES Appendix II: CITES Appendix II: Facts and Myths Facts and Myths

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• Establishes an international legal framework to Establishes an international legal framework to regulate international trade and prevent regulate international trade and prevent overexploitationoverexploitation

• Most thorough source of information on wildlife Most thorough source of information on wildlife tradetrade

• Import and export countries share responsibility Import and export countries share responsibility to ensure trade is sustainableto ensure trade is sustainable

• Promotes projects to assess population status of Promotes projects to assess population status of species in trade and effect of international tradespecies in trade and effect of international trade

Benefits of CITESBenefits of CITES

US Imports by Country (kg)US Imports by Country (kg)

Imports into France and territoriesImports into France and territories

Volume of Queen Conch flesh from

imports (kg)

OriginCuba (kg) Jamaica

(kg)

2008 377 747 3 005 374 7422009 396 351 396 7422010 382 090 382 0902011 382 797 382 797

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FisheriesFisheries and and CITESCITES actions actions for queen conchfor queen conch

• 1991 - Workshop on Biology, Fisheries, 1991 - Workshop on Biology, Fisheries, Mariculture and Management of the Queen Mariculture and Management of the Queen Conch Conch Strombus gigasStrombus gigas, Caracas, Venezuela – , Caracas, Venezuela – expresses concern about depletion of conch expresses concern about depletion of conch resource in the Caribbeanresource in the Caribbean

• 1991 – 1991 – Strombus gigas Strombus gigas included in Annex III of included in Annex III of the the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected the the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)

• 1992 - 1992 - Strombus gigas Strombus gigas listed in Appendix II of listed in Appendix II of CITESCITES

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FisheriesFisheries and and CITESCITES actions actions for queen conchfor queen conch

• 1994 - CITES decision to conduct first 1994 - CITES decision to conduct first significant trade study of queen conchsignificant trade study of queen conch

• 1996 - 1st International Queen Conch 1996 - 1st International Queen Conch Initiative (IQCI) Conference, San Juan, Puerto Initiative (IQCI) Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico - Declaration adoptedRico - Declaration adopted

• 1997 - Regional Forum on Fisheries in the 1997 - Regional Forum on Fisheries in the Caribbean - San Andrés, ColombiaCaribbean - San Andrés, Colombia

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International Queen International Queen Conch Initiative Conch Initiative andand CITESCITES

• 1997 - IQCI Workshop - San José, Costa Rica1997 - IQCI Workshop - San José, Costa Rica

• 1998 - IQCI meeting - Juan Dolio, Dominican 1998 - IQCI meeting - Juan Dolio, Dominican RepublicRepublic

• 1999 - Queen Conch Stock Assessment and 1999 - Queen Conch Stock Assessment and Management Workshop, Belize City, BelizeManagement Workshop, Belize City, Belize

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International Queen International Queen Conch InitiativeConch Initiative andand CITESCITES

• 2001 - 2nd IQCI Santo Domingo, Dominican 2001 - 2nd IQCI Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Republic (decision to ask CITES to re-open review)(decision to ask CITES to re-open review)

• 2001 - Hanoi, Viet Nam - CITES decision to 2001 - Hanoi, Viet Nam - CITES decision to conduct another review of Significant Trade in conduct another review of Significant Trade in queen conchqueen conch

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International Queen International Queen Conch Initiative Conch Initiative andand CITES CITES

• 2002-2003 - CITES conducts a review of 2002-2003 - CITES conducts a review of Significant Trade for queen conch to determine if Significant Trade for queen conch to determine if range states are making appropriate non-range states are making appropriate non-detriment findingsdetriment findings

• 21-24 January 2003 - Fisheries Enforcement 21-24 January 2003 - Fisheries Enforcement Conference, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – Conference, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – discussion of queen conch international trade discussion of queen conch international trade and the sig trade processand the sig trade process

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International Queen International Queen Conch Initiative Conch Initiative andand CITES CITES

• 11-12 June 2003 - IQCI-CITES Workshop to 11-12 June 2003 - IQCI-CITES Workshop to review the Significant Trade report and solicit review the Significant Trade report and solicit comments - Montego Bay, Jamaicacomments - Montego Bay, Jamaica

• September 2003 - CITES Standing Committee September 2003 - CITES Standing Committee issues recommendations to suspend trade with issues recommendations to suspend trade with some countries trading in queen conch based on some countries trading in queen conch based on the review of significant tradethe review of significant trade

• 14-18 November 2005 - GCFI/IQCI Joint 14-18 November 2005 - GCFI/IQCI Joint technical workshop on queen conch and spiny technical workshop on queen conch and spiny lobsterlobster

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International Queen International Queen Conch Initiative Conch Initiative andand CITES CITES

• 13-15 December 2005 - CITES workshop on 13-15 December 2005 - CITES workshop on Review of the Significant Trade Study on Review of the Significant Trade Study on Strombus gigasStrombus gigas – Santo Domingo, Dominican – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Republic

• 28-31 July 2008 – International Workshop for 28-31 July 2008 – International Workshop for Improvement of Queen Conch Collaborative Improvement of Queen Conch Collaborative Management in the Western Caribbean – San Management in the Western Caribbean – San Andrés, ColombiaAndrés, Colombia

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International Queen International Queen Conch Initiative Conch Initiative andand CITES CITES

• 17-22 November 2008 – International Expert 17-22 November 2008 – International Expert Workshop on CITES Non-Detriment Findings – Workshop on CITES Non-Detriment Findings – Cancún , MéxicoCancún , México

• 22-24 May 2012 – Queen Conch 22-24 May 2012 – Queen Conch Experts Workshop – Miami, FL Experts Workshop – Miami, FL

Made recommendations on data collection, and Made recommendations on data collection, and management measures, such as stock assessment, management measures, such as stock assessment, ecosystem management, precautionary controls, ecosystem management, precautionary controls, enforcement and compliance and CITES;enforcement and compliance and CITES;

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International Queen International Queen Conch Initiative Conch Initiative andand CITES CITES

• 23-25 October 2012 – CFMC/OSPESCA/23-25 October 2012 – CFMC/OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM Working group on Queen WECAFC/CRFM Working group on Queen Conch – Panamá City, Panamá Conch – Panamá City, Panamá

Endorsed recommendations of the Expert Working Group;Endorsed recommendations of the Expert Working Group;

Countries and organizations of the Wider Caribbean Region Countries and organizations of the Wider Caribbean Region re-committed their support for sustainable and legal re-committed their support for sustainable and legal harvest and trade of queen conch, including harvest and trade of queen conch, including development of a regional plan for the species;development of a regional plan for the species;

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International Queen International Queen Conch Initiative Conch Initiative andand CITES CITES

Other CFMC/OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM Working Other CFMC/OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM Working group recommendations:group recommendations:

•Urged discussion of the Working Group recommendations Urged discussion of the Working Group recommendations at the next CITES Conference of the Parties under the at the next CITES Conference of the Parties under the agenda item submitted by Colombiaagenda item submitted by Colombia

•Encouraged the increased awareness of Safety-at-Sea Encouraged the increased awareness of Safety-at-Sea issues and alternatives to compressed air diving for queen issues and alternatives to compressed air diving for queen conch.conch.

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International Queen International Queen Conch Initiative Conch Initiative andand CITES CITES

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