CITES

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement signed by 183 Parties designed to ensure that international trade in animals and plants does not threaten their survival in the wild. The treaty was drafted in Washington, D.C. in 1973 and entered into force in 1975.
 

Why is CITES important for Marine Species?
Because many marine species that are traded internationally are highly-migratory – they swim long distances often crossing national boundaries – their conservation can only be achieved by working collaboratively with other nations. CITES provides a legal framework to regulate the international trade of species to ensure their sustainability, and promotes cooperation among CITES members - also known as CITES Parties.
 

How does CITES work?
Species covered by CITES are listed in different appendices according to their conservation status:

• Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction and provides the greatest level of protection, including a prohibition on commercial trade.
  
• Appendix II includes species that although currently not threatened with extinction, may become so without trade controls. Regulated trade is allowed provided that the exporting country issues a permit based on findings that the specimens were legally acquired, and the trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species or its role in the ecosystem.
  
• Appendix III includes species for which a country has asked other CITES Parties to help in controlling international trade. Trade in Appendix-III species is regulated using CITES export permits (issued by the country that listed the species in Appendix III) and certificates of origin (issued by all other countries).

Changes to the lists of species in Appendix I and II and to CITES Resolutions and Decisions are made at meetings of the Conference of the Parties, which are convened every two to three years.  Countries may list species for which they have domestic regulation in Appendix III at any time.
 

Next Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES
The 17th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to CITES will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from September 24 – October 5, 2016.  The United States, joined by Fiji, India, and Palau, submitted a proposal that will be considered at this meeting to include the entire family of chambered nautiluses in Appendix II of CITES.  The United States is also cosponsoring a proposal to include mobulid rays (devil rays) in Appendix II of CITES.  Learn more.

For more information on CITES-listed marine species, please contact Laura Cimo (laura.cimo@noaa.gov).