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WWF Hong Kong and TRAFFIC Make Recommendations
on Upcoming CITES Conference
Echoing the upcoming Thirteenth Conference of the Parties (COP 13) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), WWF Hong Kong and TRAFFIC East Asia (TEA) today remind the public of Hong Kong be green consumers and draw attention to several issues of critical concern for conservation.
Being held in Bangkok, Thailand, on 2-14 October 2004, the COP 13 will be discussing and deciding on 50 proposals to list species on the Appendices for regulation and monitoring of international trade, or removing some species from the Appendices. WWF Hong Kong and TEA have highlighted six of wildlife species and categories that are of particular significance to Hong Kong people -
- Yellow-crested cockatoo
- Asian fresh water turtles
- Great white shark
- Humphead wrasse
- Desert-living cistanche
- Agarwood-producing species
Significant legal and illegal trade in many of the species are for food souvenirs, curios, pets and manufacture of traditional medicines. While Yellow-created cockatoo and some Asian fresh water turtles like pig-nosed turtle and Roti snake-necked turtle are precious pets, rare fishes like Humphead wrasse and Great white shark fetch high prices for their meat, jaws and fins. Desert-living cistanche and agarwood are important ingredients for some traditional Chinese medicines and aromas.
"We support the proposed Appendix II listing of Humphead wrasse and Great white shark," said Mr. Clarus Chu, WWF Hong Kong Assistant Conservation Officer. "Both species of fish are being caught in substantial numbers through directed fisheries and as bycatch, but they are extremely vulnerable to exploitation, due to their slow growth, low reproductive rate, long gestation periods, and late maturity."
Enforcement of fishery agreements, where they do exist, for commercial fisheries has been confounded by the wide and patchy distribution of such fishery resources, and the obsolete belief that marine resources are inexhaustible. Mr. Chu further noted, "The listing of these species of fishes, if approved by the Parties, would further strengthen fisheries management procedures and provide a mechanism for monitoring international trade.
Although twelve species of Asian turtles and tortoises are already successfully listed on the Appendix II in the last COP, many other Asian turtles are still widely traded in Hong Kong and southern China. The two organisations support the further proposed listings of five more fresh water turtle species. "Wild populations of these species, some of which already listed as 'Critically Endangered' by IUCN, are declining in most of their range due to apparently unsustainable collection and poor enforcement of trade controls," said Mr. Samuel Lee, TEA Programme Officer. "In the long term, it is also important to enlist the support of the major user groups to develop feasible resource management plans and adjust demand, " Mr. Lee further noted.
"Hong Kong consumers must also recognise the role they play in wildlife trade," said Mr Clarus Chu, "If Hong Kong consumers want to continuously enjoy supply of the diverse wildlife resources, trade regulations and monitoring alone are not sufficient - consumer attitudes must change to support sustainable exploitation of these resources."
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