1. 1 The following presentation was given at the Joint Technical Workshop on Queen Conch and Spiny Lobster November 14-18, 2005 San Andres, Colombia The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the workshop’s sponsoring agencies…

2. 2 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora CITES trade data GCFI/IQCI Technical workshop on queen conch fisheries issues San Andres y Providencia, Colombia 14-18 November 2005

3. 3 Annual Report data … CITES Parties must prepare annual reports detailing imports and exports of species listed in the Convention’s three Appendices Article VIII, paragraph 7 (a) Data compiled into the CITES trade database managed on behalf of the CITES Secretariat by the UNEP- World Conservation Monitoring Centre Trade database can be accessed on line – consult “A guide to interpreting Outputs from the CITES Trade Database”!

4. 4 … an under-utilized resource Many Parties put a significant amount of time and effort into compiling annual reports However, few take advantage of the wealth of information to be found within the larger database, compiled subsets of which are available to them on request Main limitation: Analyses supported by CITES trade data are only as accurate and comprehensive as the data submitted in CITES annual reports

5. 5 Strombus gigas: specimens and units TermsUnit Bodiesnumbers; kg Carvingsnumbers; kg; pairs Derivativesnumbers; kg Live numbers; kg Meat numbers; boxes; cases; kg Pearls numbers; kg Shells numbers; kg; pairs; pieces Specimens numbers; kg Unspecified number; kg; pairs

6. 6 Total Net exports of S. gigas 1992-2004 – specimens and units

7. 7 Using CITES trade data To compare records of exports with import records (comparative tabulation) To analyze trade trends (source, traders, volumes, shifts, etc.) and identify problematic trade Quota management and control Review of Significant Trade The following cannot be answered with CITES data alone: –enforcement of CITES –Impact of trade on status of species and/or ecosystems –Socio-economic aspects of trade Further information that would assist with the interpretation of CITES trade data: –Conservation status and biology –Harvest and trade controls; Illegal trade –Levels of offtake, harvest or landings prior to export; fisheries export and import data –Customs data; market information; values

8. 8

9. 9 Main importers of S. gigas meat (in kg; 92-04) Importers of 27,973,576 kg of meat, representing 98% of all reported meat trade [28,839,471 kg]

10. 10 S. gigas export quotas 2001-05 (in Kg) 27,918261,3189,000743,3599,000693,3599,000203,3591,117,359Total 27,91845,359 Nicaragua 550,000 500,000 946,000Jamaica 70,000 Cuba 29,3869,000148,0009,000148,0009,000158,000126,000Colombia 116,573 Bahamas Meat*MeatShellMeatShellMeatShellMeat 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001Country * meat obtained from various monitoring activities and morphological studies

11. 11 Export quotas for S. gigas meat (Kg) and recorded net exports 73,27745,359 Quota ? ?45,03835,77344,371Net exports NI 550,000500,000 - 946,000 Quota ? ?667,652531,400683,575Net exports JM 70,000 --- -Quota ? 15,32015,85225,00040,000Net exports CU 29,386148,000 158,000126,000 Quota ?? 122,30179,13379,052Net exports CO 116,573 --- -Quota ? ?39,362132,180219,787Net exports BS 2005 2004200320022001 Exporter

12. 12 Recommendations conc. CITES trade data CITES Review of Significant Trade (2003) Establish a standardized minimum weight of unprocessed and processed meat that corresponds to adult specimens Improve reporting of trade volumes especially in dependent territories of France, the Netherlands and the UK All meat in international trade should be reported in kilograms (kg) and live specimens and shells in kilograms (kg) or number of specimens range States should collect and communicate information on percentages of tissue loss (and thus weight) during the processing of S. gigas meat collaborate in establishment of standardized terminology and conversion factors for processed meat of S. gigas that allow estimation of the number of animals in international trade

13. 13 Recommendations conc. data and reporting IQCI meeting in Montego Bay (2003) relating to improvement of status and trends reporting for queen conch stocks Promote exchange of standardized data to facilitate a more accurate regional picture of status and trends of S. gigas stocks. In this regard, a harmonized conversion factor for conch product types is critical States should consult within governments to reduce discrepancies in reporting on status and trends of stocks as well as trade data (e.g. differences in CITES data and fisheries export data) Participate in the implementation of FAO’s Strategy for Improvement of Status and Trends of Fisheries Region should request that Queen Conch be considered as a priority by FAO in implementing the Strategy