 Giant Coral Reef Fish , Great White and Irrawaddy Dolphin High on CITES Agenda
Posted by: Cindy on Sep 29, 2004 AD - 03:51 AM
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Overexploitation and uncontrolled trade are destroying Asia's forests, rivers and seas according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The warning comes ahead of the meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) which begins in Bangkok on Saturday. It is the first time that the CITES meeting is being held in Southeast Asia and three Asian species -- ramin, a tropical hardwood, humphead wrasse, a giant coral reef fish, and the Irrawaddy dolphin are high on the agenda for discussion.
Widespread fishing practices are threatening the survival of the humphead wrasse and the Irrawaddy dolphin. Cyanide is often used to stun and capture the wrasse which is harvested for the live fish food trade. WWF is concerned that the fish, which is often traded young, could soon be lost from some areas, if the level of trade is not regulated.
The Irrawaddy dolphin faces more stringent regulation as even limited trade of the dolphin could trigger extinction. The biggest threat to its survival in the wild is entanglement in fishing nets and injury from explosives used for dynamite fishing. However, putting them on display in zoos is also contributing to their decline. This rare dolphin is popular in Asia - currently, Irrawaddy can be found on display in at least 9 Asian countries.
WWF will also be pushing for greater protection of great white sharks -- at risk from unregulated trade in their teeth, jaws and fins. Considered the world's most important wildlife agreement, CITES is the only global treaty that regulates trade in threatened and endangered animals and plants. At this year's Conference of the Parties (COP13) from 2 to 14 October in Bangkok, Thailand, CITES parties will discuss 48 species and species groups involved in international trade.
Source: Newswire
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