04 Jan 2007 - Gland, Switzerland – Following last year’s
suspension of the international trade in caviar from wild
sturgeon, the United Nations has lifted the ban.
The ban was lifted after the Secretariat of the UN Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) confirmed
that the main producer states of caviar — Azerbaijan, Iran,
Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan agreed to cut the combined
catch quotas for sturgeon, whose eggs make caviar. The quotas
have been reduced an average of 20 per cent compared with
2005 levels, with reductions of one-third for some species.
According to WWF and TRAFFIC, it is essential that all
decisions regarding trade in sturgeon must be made based
on the most reliable, accurate and up-to-date scientific
information, including knowledge of domestic trade levels,
wild sturgeon populations, efficiency of restocking programmes
and levels of illegal trade.
“With the publication of the sturgeon quotas today, it
is evident that last year’s ban has resulted in range States
making a collective effort in improving information collection,
strengthening management regimes and enhancing regional
cooperation,” said Dr Susan Lieberman, Director of WWF’s
Global Species Programme.”
“We will continue to carefully monitor these quotas with
concern to ensure that trade is not harming these species
in the wild.”
Currently, exports from the Caspian Sea of three sturgeon
species will be allowed in 2007 including 27,630kg of caviar
of the Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), 38,000kg
of Persian sturgeon (A. persicus), and 20,337kg of Stellate
sturgeon (A. stellatus).
The quotas for Persian and Stellate sturgeon are 25 per
cent lower than 2005 levels. However, the quota for Russian
sturgeon increased by 23 per cent compared to the 2005 quota.
WWF and TRAFFIC are concerned about the increase in quotas
for Russian sturgeon from the Russian Federation.
“Besides the caviar reported in international trade, considerable
volumes of caviar are also consumed domestically in Russia
and high levels of illegal poaching and trade in caviar
have been known to occur there,” Dr Lieberman said.
Illegal trade in caviar continues to be a problem and large
seizures of illegal caviar in Europe indicate that there
is a thriving black market in the luxury roe, which is threatening
the survival of many sturgeon species.
According to CITES, a decision on whether to lift a ban
on beluga, the most expensive caviar, was put off for a
further month to give producers more time to provide the
needed information on stocks and other issues.
“TRAFFIC and WWF are concerned that beluga stocks are indeed
at critical levels and are encouraged that a certain degree
of caution is being exercised in making a determination
on this species,” said Sabri Zain, TRAFFIC’s Director of
Advocacy and Campaigns.
“While the publication of these quotas today may indicate
progress has been made, we hope that range States continue
to address these problems.”
The issue of trade in sturgeons will be further discussed
at the next CITES meeting in June 2007.
WWF and TRAFFIC hope that the outcome of these discussions
ensures that sturgeon exports reflect current population
trends and are sustainable.
END NOTES:
• All 27 sturgeon species were listed under the Convention
on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna
and Flora (CITES) in 1998, and since then, international
trade in caviar and other sturgeon products can only take
place with the relevant permits.
• TRAFFIC, the wildlife trade monitoring network, is a
joint programme of WWF and IUCN-The World Conservation Union.
Joanna Benn, Communications Manager / WWF Global Species
Programme
