08/10/20151 Queen Conch (Strombus gigas): A CITES-Fisheries Success Story Nancy K. Daves NOAA Fisheries Office of International Affairs Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute Santa Marta, Colombia

CITES Basics 208/10/2015 Appendix I: species threatened with extinction; Appendix I: species threatened with extinction; no commercial international trade no commercial international trade

CITES Basics 308/10/2015 Appendix II: species vulnerable to overexploitation, but not at risk of extinction; Appendix II: species vulnerable to overexploitation, but not at risk of extinction; regulated trade allowed with export permits regulated trade allowed with export permits

08/10/20154 Before issuing an export permit for an Appendix II 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 species survival in the wild. That the export will not be detrimental to the species survival in the wild. CITES Appendix II: How it works

08/10/20155 CITES Appendix II is: NOT a list of species in which NOT a list of species in which international trade is prohibited. CITES Appendix-II species may be traded internationally if accompanied by appropriate permits. It helps regulate and monitor trade for species vulnerable to overuse CITES Appendix II: Facts and Myths

08/10/20156 Establishes an international legal framework to regulate international trade and prevent overexploitation Establishes an international legal framework to regulate international trade and prevent overexploitation Most thorough source of information on wildlife trade Most thorough source of information on wildlife trade Import and export countries share responsibility to ensure trade is sustainable Import and export countries share responsibility to ensure trade is sustainable Promotes projects to assess population status of species in trade and effect of international trade Promotes projects to assess population status of species in trade and effect of international trade Benefits of CITES

US Imports by Country (kg)

Imports into France and territories Volume of Queen Conch flesh from imports (kg) Origin Cuba (kg)Jamaica (kg)

908/10/2015 Fisheries and CITES actions for queen conch Workshop on Biology, Fisheries, Mariculture and Management of the Queen Conch Strombus gigas, Caracas, Venezuela – expresses concern about depletion of conch resource in the Caribbean Workshop on Biology, Fisheries, Mariculture and Management of the Queen Conch Strombus gigas, Caracas, Venezuela – expresses concern about depletion of conch resource in the Caribbean 1991 – Strombus gigas included in Annex III of the the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) 1991 – Strombus gigas included in Annex III of the the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Strombus gigas listed in Appendix II of CITES Strombus gigas listed in Appendix II of CITES

1008/10/2015 Fisheries and CITES actions for queen conch CITES decision to conduct first significant trade study of queen conch CITES decision to conduct first significant trade study of queen conch st International Queen Conch Initiative (IQCI) Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico - Declaration adopted st International Queen Conch Initiative (IQCI) Conference, San Juan, Puerto Rico - Declaration adopted Regional Forum on Fisheries in the Caribbean - San Andrés, Colombia Regional Forum on Fisheries in the Caribbean - San Andrés, Colombia

1108/10/2015 International Queen Conch Initiative and CITES IQCI Workshop - San José, Costa Rica IQCI Workshop - San José, Costa Rica IQCI meeting - Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic IQCI meeting - Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic Queen Conch Stock Assessment and Management Workshop, Belize City, Belize Queen Conch Stock Assessment and Management Workshop, Belize City, Belize

1208/10/2015 International Queen Conch Initiative and CITES nd IQCI Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (decision to ask CITES to re-open review) nd IQCI Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (decision to ask CITES to re-open review) Hanoi, Viet Nam - CITES decision to conduct another review of Significant Trade in queen conch

1308/10/2015 International Queen Conch Initiative and CITES CITES conducts a review of Significant Trade for queen conch to determine if range states are making appropriate non- detriment findings CITES conducts a review of Significant Trade for queen conch to determine if range states are making appropriate non- detriment findings January Fisheries Enforcement Conference, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – discussion of queen conch international trade and the sig trade process January Fisheries Enforcement Conference, Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic – discussion of queen conch international trade and the sig trade process

1408/10/2015 International Queen Conch Initiative and CITES June IQCI-CITES Workshop to review the Significant Trade report and solicit comments - Montego Bay, Jamaica11-12 June IQCI-CITES Workshop to review the Significant Trade report and solicit comments - Montego Bay, Jamaica September CITES Standing Committee issues recommendations to suspend trade with some countries trading in queen conch based on the review of significant tradeSeptember CITES Standing Committee issues recommendations to suspend trade with some countries trading in queen conch based on the review of significant trade November GCFI/IQCI Joint technical workshop on queen conch and spiny lobster14-18 November GCFI/IQCI Joint technical workshop on queen conch and spiny lobster

1508/10/2015 International Queen Conch Initiative and CITES December CITES workshop on Review of the Significant Trade Study on Strombus gigas – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic December CITES workshop on Review of the Significant Trade Study on Strombus gigas – Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic July 2008 – International Workshop for Improvement of Queen Conch Collaborative Management in the Western Caribbean – San Andrés, Colombia28-31 July 2008 – International Workshop for Improvement of Queen Conch Collaborative Management in the Western Caribbean – San Andrés, Colombia

1608/10/2015 International Queen Conch Initiative and CITES November 2008 – International Expert Workshop on CITES Non-Detriment Findings – Cancún, México17-22 November 2008 – International Expert Workshop on CITES Non-Detriment Findings – Cancún, México May 2012 – Queen Conch May 2012 – Queen Conch Experts Workshop – Miami, FL Experts Workshop – Miami, FL Made recommendations on data collection, and management measures, such as stock assessment, ecosystem management, precautionary controls, enforcement and compliance and CITES;

1708/10/2015 International Queen Conch Initiative and CITES October 2012 – CFMC/OSPESCA/23-25 October 2012 – CFMC/OSPESCA/ WECAFC/CRFM Working group on Queen Conch – Panamá City, Panamá Endorsed recommendations of the Expert Working Group; Countries and organizations of the Wider Caribbean Region re-committed their support for sustainable and legal harvest and trade of queen conch, including development of a regional plan for the species;

1808/10/2015 International Queen Conch Initiative and CITES Other CFMC/OSPESCA/WECAFC/CRFM Working group recommendations: Urged discussion of the Working Group recommendations at the next CITES Conference of the Parties under the agenda item submitted by ColombiaUrged discussion of the Working Group recommendations at the next CITES Conference of the Parties under the agenda item submitted by Colombia Encouraged the increased awareness of Safety-at-Sea issues and alternatives to compressed air diving for queen conch.Encouraged the increased awareness of Safety-at-Sea issues and alternatives to compressed air diving for queen conch.

1908/10/2015 International Queen Conch Initiative and CITES