CBD CoP16 Ocean Day Side Event: Implementing the Global Biodiversity Framework: How UN-Oceans can support States in meeting their obligations under the GBF with a focus on the ocean-biodiversity-climate nexus, including development and implementation of NBSAPs
Remarks by CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero
27 October 2024, Cali, Colombia
Members of delegations,
Esteemed colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,
I would like to extend my gratitude to the Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea (DOALOS) of the Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) for organising this important side event, bringing together different members of UN-Oceans to showcase best practices of cooperation and synergies in the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, focusing on ocean related issues.
The triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution is affecting every corner of the globe and its combined effects are becoming increasingly visible in the oceans.
In this context, the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework was a landmark decision. Its effective implementation relies on coordinated action of multiple actors and organisations which, within their respective mandates and programmes can contribute to the achievement of its goals.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is a Multilateral Environmental Agreement with 184 Parties, including the European Union. It aims to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species in the wild. To date around 40,900 animal and plant species are included in the three Appendices of the Convention.
As such, the effective implementation of CITES can actively contribute to the achievement of the goals of the Framework and in particular its targets 4, 5 and 9 focusing on the reduction of extinction risk for threatened species, on ensuring sustainable, safe and legal use, harvesting and trade of wild species and ensuring that the management and use of wild species are sustainable thereby providing human benefits.
The listing of marine species in the CITES Appendices has evolved over time in response to increasing concerns about the overexploitation of marine life due to international trade. Initially, in 1975 when it entered into force, CITES focused on terrestrial species and marine species were not significantly represented in the appendices at this time, except for a few notable species such as whales and sea turtles. However, as the scope of human impact on marine ecosystems became clearer, the need for regulating the trade of marine species grew.
In the 1990s, some corals, queen conch (Strombus gigas), giant clam (Tridacna gigas), and marine mammals were added to the Appendices. Since then, an increasing number of marine species have been added to Appendix I and II, including seahorses, sharks and rays and sea cucumbers.
At the last CITES Conference of the Parties, held in Panama City, three families of shark and ray species were included in Appendix II. This has added close to 100 new species in the Appendices, including commercially important and highly migratory species.
Taking into consideration the importance of aquatic species for international trade, and the increasing trends observed, CITES implementation and enforcement should be seen as a core part of global efforts to conserve and restore critical marine and coastal ecosystems.
In the framework of CITES, and with support from the Secretariat, the Parties adopt and implement measures to ensure that international trade of animal and plant species listed in the CITES Appendices is carried out in a sustainable, legal, and traceable manner. This is ensured by the Parties through the preparation of scientific-based risk assessments called Non-Detriment Findings, the verification of the legal acquisition of the specimens traded, called Legal Acquisition Findings and the issuance of a specific permit or certificate authorizing the trade as per CITES provisions.
The inclusions of high migratory marine species such as sharks in the CITES Appendices has introduced new challenges to the implementation of the Convention. These species are circumglobal and traverse oceans including the waters within and outside national jurisdiction. Ensuring sustainability of harvesting these species require coordinated efforts among CITES Parties, regional fishery bodies and other international bodies. This necessitates stronger international cooperation to ensure that trade practices are not only legal and traceable but also align with conservation efforts aimed at preventing overexploitation.
CITES provisions also regulate the trade and the Introduction from the Sea of specimens of CITES-listed species that have been harvested in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction and therefore convergence points exist with the Agreement on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement).
In this respect and considering the increased number of marine species listed in the Appendices of the CITES recently, the Secretariat is following closely the developments under the BBNJ Agreement and explores areas where synergies and interlinkages should be sought, upon its entry into force.
As Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing represents an important pressure of marine and coastal species, it is worth reflecting on the relationship between IUU fishing and CITES. As explained previously, the authorisation of trade in CITES-listed species, required the prior satisfaction of the Parties that certain conditions are met, including legal acquisition and sustainable harvesting of the specimens. In this respect, the specimens of CITES-listed species cannot be illegal or unreported and therefore, trade cannot be authorized in specimens of CITES-listed species caught by vessels engaged in illegal or unreported fishing.
CITES has a longstanding cooperation with FAO, which has been enriched over the years and formalised through an MoU signed in 2006. As part of this collaboration with the FAO and relevant regional fisheries bodies and organizations, the CITES Secretariat has organized a series of technical workshops on the implementation of the Convention for CITES-listed marine species aiming to strengthen cooperation between national fisheries and CITES authorities to effectively implement CITES in the fisheries sector. FAO is also consulted and contributes with its scientific knowledge to the assessment of proposed amendments to the CITES appendices, for species relevant to its scope of work.
A common theme arising from these workshops are the need for robust scientific data on marine species listed in the CITES Appendices. Information on distribution, population estimates, and impact of trade are essential for making informed decisions about the sustainability of the species. In addition to data, there is a recognized need for continued collaboration across Parties, organizations and stakeholders for management of these highly migratory species.
CITES Parties have expressed their commitment to contribute to the implementation of the post 2020 GBF, through the implementation of CITES. The CITES Strategic Vision offers insight into our alignment with the GBF mission and vision, for example through Targets 5 which seeks to ensure our sustainable use and trade in wild species to prevent overexploitation and reduce the risk of pathogen spillover. As well as Target 9 which emphasizes the importance of managing wild species sustainably to ensure that the benefits reach people, especially Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, who are vital guardians and beneficiaries of our ecosystems.
I am confident that all members of the UN-Oceans, collectively and through our individual mandates, have the required capacity to support the States to meet the substantial challenges confronting the marine and coastal ecosystems and achieve ocean-related goals.