Background

Institutional cooperation is fundamental for enhancing the implementation of CITES in the fisheries sector. As more commercially exploited aquatic species (e.g. sharks, rays, sea cucumber and queen conch) are being included in the Appendix II of the Convention, it is crucial that national authorities designated as CITES Management Authority, CITES Scientific Authority, and those responsible for fisheries, as well as customs, enforcement, port, among others, effectively communicate, share information, data, and any relevant findings that can support Parties in meeting the Convention’s requirements.

At the international level, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been collaborating with the CITES Secretariat, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean Countries (OECS) to enhance comprehension of the interrelationship between CITES and fisheries legal regimes and build capacity for CITES-compliant trade.

This side event will share the latest findings from these partnerships, as well as the experiences and lessons learned from regions where FAO-CITES legal training workshops for the implementation of the Convention in the fisheries sector were carried out.

See below materials produced under or supported by these partnerships.