Fisheries not catching on

It’s make or break time for the world’s fisheries © WWF-South Pacific Click to enlargeCambridge, UK, 1 March 2007—There has never been a more urgent need to strengthen fisheries management measures globally, says TRAFFIC in a new report that examines the application of trade-related measures by Regional Fisheries Management Organisations (RFMOs) in regulating the world’s fishing industry.

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CITES: Provisional assessments welcomed

Cambridge, UK, 28 February 2007—TRAFFIC and WWF have welcomed the preliminary assessments of new proposals for amending wildlife trade rules announced today by the Secretariat of the Convention on the International Trade in Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES).

The proposals will be discussed in detail and voted upon at the forthcoming meeting of CITES signatories (COP14) which takes place from 3–15 June in the Hague, Netherlands.

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Sharks see red

Oxford, UK, 22 February 2007—Oceanic shark numbers are declining through overfishing, and several species have been added to the World Conservation Union’s (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species.

“The qualities of pelagic sharks—fast, powerful and wide ranging—too often leads to a misperception that they are resilient to fishing pressure,” said Sarah Fowler, Co-Chair of the World Conservation Union's Species Survival Commission (IUCN SSC) Shark Specialist Group.

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New industry standard for collection of wild plants

Wolf's Bane Arnica montana is used in the treatment of bruising and sprains, but is becoming rarer throughout its European range © G. Ammermann/WWF Click to enlargeNuremberg, Germany, 16 February 2007—A new standard to promote the sustainable management and trade in wild medicinal and aromatic plants (MAP) was launched today at Biofach, the World Organic Trade Fair.

The International Standard for Sustainable Wild Collection of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (ISSC-MAP) was drawn up following extensive consultation with plant experts and the herbal products industry worldwide.

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Sharks over the moon following court ruling

A pastor in the Unification Church and five other “Moonies” have been convicted of poaching undersize Leopard Sharks © 2006 Monterey Bay Aquarium FoundationCalifornia, USA, 15 February 2007—The Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity, founded by the Reverend Sun Myung Moon, whose followers are known colloquially as “Moonies”, and six men convicted of poaching Leopard Sharks are to pay a total of US$910,000 to help restore marine wildlife habitat in the San Francisco Bay. Generous donations from the California Coastal Conservancy and three Foundations are to contribute a further US$600,000 for conservation work in the area.

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Have a heart: a third of Borneo’s rainforests to be conserved

Rainforests in the heart of Borneo will be conserved, thanks to the historic Declaration © WWF-Canon / A. Christy WILLIAMS Click to enlargeBali, Indonesia, 12 February 2007—An historic declaration to conserve the “Heart of Borneo” was officially signed today between the three Bornean governments—Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

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CAWT in the act

The CAWT coalition comprises 4 government agencies and 13 organizationsCambridge, UK, 10 February 2007—The Coalition Against Wildlife Trafficking (CAWT) was launched today by a partnership of governments and concerned organisations to tackle the growing problem of illegal trade in wild animals and plants.

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Five things not to eat for Chinese New Year

Shark fins for sale, Hong Kong: you could be buying trouble for the environment, warns TRAFFIC © WWF-Canon / Meg GAWLER Click to enlargeBeijing, China, 9 February 2007—Looking for that sumptuous dining experience as Chinese New Year approaches? TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, says that by avoiding or carefully sourcing certain foods, such as shark's fin, sea cucumber and abalone, you can avoid having a detrimental impact on the planet's natural resources and a guilt free Year of the Pig.

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Caviar figures smell fishy

TRAFFIC is concerned the lifting of a caviar trade ban was not based on sound scientific data © Boris MashkovVladivostock, Russia, 8 February 2007—The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has lifted a one-year ban on exports of caviar from stocks of beluga sturgeon and two species of sturgeon from the Amur River basin. The announcement has dismayed TRAFFIC and WWF who are concerned the decision was not based on catch quotas established by the Russian Federation for 2007.

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