As the 15th meeting of the conference of parties to the Convention in Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) closed yesterday, Greenpeace condemned governments for putting short-term economic interests ahead of the long-term survival of endangered species.
“Too many governments at CITES have voted to protect profits not endangered species,” said Oliver Knowles, Greenpeace International Oceans Campaigner. “This conference has been a disaster for conservation.”
“Country after country has come out at this meeting arguing for business as usual and continued trade in wildlife species that are already devastated by human activity.”
Governments at CITES failed to agree the urgently needed international trade ban on Atlantic bluefin tuna, which now faces the risk of commercial extinction. Other species fared no better.
Numerous types of shark, red and pink corals as well as several land species all lost out.
The Japanese delegation was far larger than in previous years, and Greenpeace says it used aggressive lobbying tactics to undermine proposals it didn’t like – particularly the attempt to protect Atlantic bluefin tuna by listing it on Appendix I. Despite EU and US support for the protection listing, both failed to counter the aggressive Japanese lobby.
“The Japanese government has shown its hand as a real opponent of global conservation efforts to reverse the trend in biodiversity loss, particularly when these efforts have an immediate impact on sushi or other seafood supplies,” continued Mr Knowles.
