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April 21, 2006
Subject:
Export Quotas for Sturgeon Caviar and Sturgeon Products
Background: On
January 3, 2006, the CITES Secretariat announced that they were
unable to publish the 2006 export quotas for caviar and sturgeon
products (except for aquaculture) until exporting countries provided
more information about the sustainability of their sturgeon catch.
(See U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service public bulletin dated January
26, 2006.)
On April 11, 2006, the Secretariat published the 2006 quotas for those
nations that share stocks and that have aquaculture operations in place
(http://www.cites.org/common/quotas/2006/Sturgeon2006.pdf).
Action: Caspian Sea Stocks:
Under established quotas, the United States will allow the import of wild sturgeon caviar harvested in 2006 and exported from Iran.
Black Sea/lower Danube Stocks :
Under established quotas, the United States will allow the import of the following
wild sturgeon products harvested in 2006:
. Wild sturgeon caviar, fertilized eggs,
and meat from Bulgaria
. Wild sturgeon caviar and meat from Romania
. Wild sturgeon caviar, fertilized eggs,
and meat from Serbia and Montenegro
Endemic and Aquaculture Stocks:
The United States will allow the import of sturgeon specimens from endemic or aquaculture stocks, which are not subject to export quota restrictions, in accordance with CITES requirements.
The Service reminds the trade community that:
- The United States no longer allows the import of sturgeon caviar
harvested from shared stocks in 2005 and exported directly from
countries bordering the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea/lower Danube,
and the Heilongjiang/Amur River.
- The United States will continue to allow the import of 2005
harvested caviar that was legally exported during 2005 and re-exported
to the United States as long as the re-export to the United States
takes place within 18 months from the date of issuance of the
original export permit.
- The United States will also continue to allow the re-export
of 2005 harvested caviar from the United States as long as that
re-export takes place within 18 months from the date of issuance
of the original export permit.
- The Service has suspended the import of, and foreign commerce
in, beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) caviar or meat originating
in Caspian Sea and Black Sea basin countries. This suspension
applies to shipments that have been exported directly from
these countries, re-exported through an intermediary country,
or transported as personal or household effects.
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