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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Publishes Notice Outlining Proposals United States May Submit For The 15th CITES Conference Of The Parties More Info







COMMENTS DUE SEPTEMBER 11, 2009. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service published its Notice in today's Federal Register (74 FR 33460-33464, July 13, 2009) describing proposed resolutions, decisions and agenda items that the U.S. may submit for consideration at the next Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).



The Fifteenth COP is scheduled for March 13-25, 2010 in Doha, Qatar. Of particular interest to the live animal trade will be a series of proposed amendments to the list of regulated species (Appendix I, II and III). Other areas of interest involve several operational decisions or resolutions implementing the Convention.



Species Issues

The Service, in response to an earlier Federal Register Notice, received recommendations involving 46 taxa (5 families, 7 genera, and 34 individual species). Following an assessment of the available trade and biological data, the Service's preliminary determinations include:



1. Species the United States is likely to submit for consideration:

Red and Pink coral (Corallium spp.) for inclusion in Appendix II

Bobcat (Lynx rufus) for removal from Appendix II.

2. Species for which the United States is "undecided" for inclusion in Appendix I or II pending receipt of additional information and consultations:

Nautilids (Allonautilus Spp.) for inclusion in II

Freshwater sawfish (Pristis microdon) for transfer from II to I

Spiny dogfish (Squalus acanthias) for inclusion in II

Devil and Manta rays (Mobulidae) for inclusion in II

Freshwater stingrays (Potamotrygonidae) for inclusion in II

American eel (Anguilla rostrata) for inclusion in II

Common snapping turtle (Chelydra serpentine) for inclusion in III (This involves a unilateral decision by the US since it involves inclusion in III)

Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata) for inclusion in II

Diamond Back Terrapin (Malaclemnys terrapin) for inclusion in II

Florida soft-shell turtle (Apalone ferox) for inclusion in II

Smooth soft-shell turtle (Apalone mutica) for inclusion in II

Spiny soft-shell turtle (Apalone spinifera) for inclusion in II

Giant leaf-tailed gecko (Uroplatus giganteus) transfer II to I

3. Species proposals which the United States is unlikely to submit unless there is receipt of "significant additional information:

Blue-sided frog (Agalychnis annae) for inclusion in II

Morelet's tree frog (Agalychnis moreletii) for inclusion in II

Rancho Grande harlequin frog (Atelopus cruciger) for inclusion in II

Helmeted water toad (Caudiverbera caudiverbera) for inclusion in II

Santa Fe frog (Leptodactylus laticeps) for inclusion in II

Giant Asian river frog (Limnonectes blythii) for inclusion in II

Fanged river frog (Limnonectes macrodon) for inclusion in II

Giant Philippine frog (Limnonectes magnus) for inclusion in II

Albanian water frog (Rana shqiperica) for inclusion in II

Rain frog (Scaphiophryne boribory) for inclusion in II

Alto Verapaz salamander (Bolitoglossa dofleini) for inclusion in II

Kaiser's spotted newt (Neurergus kaiseri) for inclusion in I or II

Kurdistan newt (Neurergus microspilotus) for inclusion in II

Alligator snapping turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) for inclusion II

Map turtles (Graptemys spp.) for inclusion in II

In response to submissions by Defenders of Wildlife and the Species Survival Network (SSN), the Service seeks additional biological and trade data for the taxa Limnonectes spp. (frogs) and the Laos wart newt (Paramesotriton laoensis) to determine if they meet the listing criteria.



** NOTE: This PetAlert does not cover plants or certain animals **



Issues Involving Resolutions and Decisions



The United States is requesting additional information on the following issues before it makes a final determination as to proceed:



1. Preparation of a discussion document on how CITES might impact climate change and how climate change might be incorporated into the non-detriment finding process.



2. Submission of a discussion document on conservation issues associated with the management of the snake trade in Asia.



3. Submission of a discussion document on issues (possibly amending current resolution) related to the registration and monitoring of Appendix I breeding operations dealing with species bred for commercial purposes pursuant. Such facilities operate pursuant to Resolution Conf. 12.10 (Rev. COP 14).



Other unresolved areas of interest which are unlikely to move forward absent receipt of significant additional information:



1. A resolution dealing with issues associated with the quality of the data and accuracy of the descriptions on the CITES permits as well as in the CITES Annual Reports. This includes species descriptions and quantity information.



2. A document reflecting the disappointment of the United States on the lack of progress in the development and/or implementation of a regional plan dealing with the African Grey parrot (Psittacus erithacus).



3. A document setting "zero export quotas" for those species that the Standing Committee recommends trade suspension.



4. A document empathizing "sound science" when making CITES non-detriment finding for importation of Appendix I species as well as non-detriment findings covering export s of Appendix I and II species.



Comment Period



The Service invites comments and information requests on each of the proposals. Written comments including supporting information) should be submitted on or before September 11, 2009.



Comments on species proposals should be sent to:

Division of Scientific Authority

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

4401 North Fairfax Drive - Room 110

Arlington, VA 22203

or via email scientificauthrotiy@fws.gov

or via fax 703-358-2276



Comments on resolutions/decisions should be sent to:

Division of Management Authority

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

4401 North Fairfax Drive - Room 212

Arlington, VA 22203

or via email CoP15@fws.gov

or via fax 703-358-2298



If you have any questions, please contact PIJAC's Marshall Meyers by email at: marshall@pijac.org or by telephone: 202/452-1525.



Please send copies of any submissions you might make to the Fish & Wildlife Service to Marshall Meyers at: marshall@pijac.org.



To read the entire notice as published in the July 13, 2009 Federal Register, click the links below:



PDF Version (http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-16410.pdf)



Text Version (http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-16410.htm)
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"

John Crickmer

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