The IUCN/SSC Shark Specialist Group
Shark News 7: June 1996
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Sawfishes considered for CITES - advice sought
As we have reported in previous issues of Shark News, there is concern
among many Shark Specialist Group members over the decline of
sawfishes (Family Pristidae) throughout the world. Sawfish are exploited
for their rostral saws, meat, oil, fins, and skins. International trade in
sawfish products may be contributing to the continued decline of
sawfish species. For example, it has been recently reported that
Chinese distributors may be supplying souvenir shops and biological
supply companies in the US with rostra from Anoxypristis cuspidata.
Therefore, listing sawfish species on CITES (Convention on International
Trade in Endangered Species) may be a valuable conservation tool for
monitoring and/or controlling international trade in these already
threatened species.
Largetooth sawfish. Artist: Sid F. Cook. © 1991 M.I. Oetinger. All rights reserved.
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Species that are threatened with extinction and that are, or may be,
affected by trade are listed on Appendix I, whereas
species that may become threatened
if such trade is not
properly controlled
are listed on Appendix
II. Trade in Appendix I
species is prohibited; trade
in species listed on Appendix
II must be controlled through
an export permit issued by the
exporting country after showing
that the export will not be
detrimental to the species' survival
in the wild.
In March 1996, the US government
published a Federal Register notice soliciting recommendations for
species to be considered for listing on Appendix I or II of CITES at the
Tenth CITES Conference of the Parties in June 1997 (COP10). A
proposal to list all species of sawfishes on Appendix I was submitted
to the US Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) by SSG members Sid Cook
and Madeline Oetinger. The US is currently reviewing this proposal
and will ask for public comment on it in a Federal Register notice to
be issued near the end of August. The US government will then decide
whether or not to sponsor a listing proposal for sawfishes at COP10
based on feedback from the scientific and conservation communities
and the public at large. Other CITES Parties may also be sought as
sponsors for the sawfish proposal.
One of the roles of the Specialist Groups is to advise IUCN on
CITES listing proposals and resolutions. The Shark Specialist Group
must decide whether to endorse the sawfish listing proposal should
the US or other CITES Party decide to sponsor it for COP10. Shark
Group members will be discussing the sawfish proposal and other
potential CITES listing proposals and resolutions at the SSG meeting
on 3 August, at the World Fisheries Congress in Brisbane.
We invite all SSG members to review the sawfish listing proposal
and advise the SSG on its merits. If you would like to receive a copy
of the proposal by email or post, please contact Merry Camhi
(mcamhi@audubon.org or fax: (516) 581-5268). Any thoughts
concerning sharks and CITES should be forwarded to Merry Camhi
or Sarah Fowler as soon as possible.
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