CITIES Meeting a Bust

The meeting of the UN CITIES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna) committee just over in Qatar rejected another official ivory sale, but in other respects it was a bust as far as giving additional protection to species under threat of extinction through over harvesting, habitat lost, and global warming.  Some of the future extinction victims of man's selfish unwillingness to help other beings inhabiting the planet:

• Tigers--there was no agreement on banning altogether the domestic sale of tiger parts, including supplies coming from so-called tiger farms.  China led objections to international oversight of its domestic tiger trade, as an "infringement of sovereignty" The delegates did agree to increase tiger range cooperation.
• Red Coral--the participating governments voted against protections for red and pink corals suffering a drastic decline due to of over harvesting for the jewelry trade. Corallium populations in the Mediterranean are no longer commercially viable.  90% of colonies in the Med are only 3 to 5cm tall and less than half are sexually mature.  Production has shifted to Pacific.  The US is the primary market for coral jewelry.  The US imported 28 million pieces of red and pink coral between 2001 and 2008.  The decision was a win for commercial lobbying.
• Sharks--the convention failed to aid five shark species also suffering population declines due to over harvesting.  Three species of hammerhead shark, the Atlantic white tip and the spiny dogfish failed to make Appendix II which would have allowed better management of the fishery for international trade.  Scientists think that the current level of harvest is unsustainable.  In some areas populations of sharks whose fins are highly prized for soup have declined by 90%.  These types of sharks are particularly vulnerable to over fishing because they are late to mature, long lived, and produce few offspring.
• Blue Fin Tuna--the single biggest failure of all, and one that practically guarantees the extinction of the fish, is the decision not to ban trade in Atlantic blue fin tuna.  There is overwhelming scientific justification to support a trade ban {"blue fin tuna"}. But once again commercial interests carried the day on a hurried vote called by Libya to cut off debate.  The international management organization (ICCAT) charged with the tuna fishery is a consensus failure.  Consumers can help the plight of the tuna by boycotting Atlantic blue fin.  So the next time you are in a restaurant ordering a tuna dish, ask if it is Atlantic blue fin.  If they don't know or it is blue fin, order the steak instead.

Score for the meet: Human Greed 4  Wildlife 1.