The Experts below are selected from a list of 228 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform
Hollie Booth - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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assessing the impact of Regulations on the use and Trade of wildlife an operational framework with a case study on manta rays
Global Ecology and Conservation, 2020Co-Authors: Hollie Booth, Simon Pooley, Tom Clements, Mochamad Iqbal Herwata Putra, Peni W Lestari, Sarah LewisAbstract:Abstract Overexploitation represents a significant threat to wildlife, with the severest impacts felt by slow growing, economically valuable species. Governments often seek to address this through regulating utilisation and Trade of species, which is commonly catalysed by multi-lateral environmental agreements (MEAs) such as the Convention on the International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). However, it is often unclear to what degree CITES and associated Regulations lead to tangible conservation outcomes. Robust impact assessments are needed to understand whether Regulations are effective for achieving biodiversity conservation goals, and to learn lessons for future policy interventions. Yet such assessments are hindered by data paucity, bias, complexity and uncertainty. Here we discuss key challenges for assessing the impact of Regulations on the use and Trade of wildlife, and offer a practical approach to overcome them. Our approach combines an integrated framework for collating and analysing disparate and methodologically inconsistent data with a robust process to establish causal inference (and hence assess impact). This framework and process can be applied to any regulation, species or country context. To demonstrate its utility we apply this approach to the case of manta ray utilisation and Trade (Mobula alfredi and M. Birostris) in Indonesia. This case study is particularly important due to the recent increase in the number of commercially important elasmobranchs listed in CITES appendices, with Parties adopting various national-level Regulations to implement their CITES commitments. However, it is unclear to what degree these listings lead to meaningful regulatory reform, and much-needed reductions in fishing mortality, utilisation and onward Trade. Indonesia is also a priority country for effective regulatory reform, due to its role as a major source country for international elasmobranch Trade. Overall, we highlight challenges and opportunities for assessing the impact of wildlife Trade Regulations, which are generalisable across species and contexts, and provide the first attempt to assess the impact of such regulatory change on manta ray mortality in a source country. We also offer recommendation for future implementation and evaluation, emphasising the importance of mixed-methods, multiple datasets, and explicit acknowledgement of bias and complexity.
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Practical measures for sustainable shark fisheries: Lessons learned from an Indonesian targeted shark fishery
2018Co-Authors: Irfan Yulianto, Hollie Booth, Prayekti Ningtias, Tasrif Kartawijaya, Juan Santos, Sonja Kleinertz, Stuart J. Campbell, Harry W. Palm, Cornelius HammerAbstract:Overfishing is a major threat to the survival of shark species, primarily driven by international Trade in high-value fins, as well as meat, liver oil, skin and cartilage. The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) aims to ensure that commercial Trade does not threaten wild species, and several shark species have recently been listed on CITES as part of international efforts to ensure that Trade does not threaten their survival. However, as international Trade Regulations alone will be insufficient to reduce overexploitation of sharks, they must be accompanied by practical fisheries management measures to reduce fishing mortality. To examine which management measures might be practical in the context of a targeted shark fishery, we collected data from 52 vessels across 595 fishing trips from January 2014 to December 2015 at Tanjung Luar fishing port in East Lombok, Indonesia. We recorded 11,920 landed individuals across 42 species, a high proportion of which were threatened and regulated species. Catch per unit effort depended primarily on the number of hooks and type of fishing gear used, and to a lesser degree on month, boat engine power, number of sets and fishing ground. The most significant factors influencing the likelihood of catching threatened and regulated species were month, fishing ground, engine power and hook number. We observed significant negative relationships between standardised catch per unit effort and several indicators of fishing effort, suggesting diminishing returns above relatively low levels of fishing effort. Our results suggest that management measures focusing on fishing effort controls, gear restrictions and modifications and spatiotemporal closures could have significant benefits for the conservation of shark species, and may help to improve the overall sustainability of the Tanjung Luar shark fishery. These management measures may also be applicable to shark fisheries in other parts of Indonesia and beyond, as sharks increasingly become the focus of global conservation efforts.
Amanda C J Vincent - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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global seahorse Trade defies export bans under cites action and national legislation
Marine Policy, 2019Co-Authors: S J Foster, Tingchun Kuo, Anita Kar Yan Wan, Amanda C J VincentAbstract:Abstract Illegal Trade undermines efforts to achieve sustainable use of wildlife, including marine fishes. This study investigated the illegal Trade of seahorses, among the first taxa of marine fishes to come under global Trade restrictions. Seahorses are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This designation allows exports of specimens that are sourced sustainably and legally (within CITES rules). However, all countries historically exporting large numbers of seahorses have since banned Trade or are under CITES export suspensions. In particular, Thailand, previously considered the source of about 75% of all wild dried seahorses, suspended exports in January 2016. To investigate global compliance, 220 interviews were conducted with Traders in Hong Kong Specialist Administrative Region (hereafter Hong Kong SAR), the largest entrepot for dried seahorses. This study sought to understand current sources of seahorses (2016–17) and relative volumes from each source. Traders reported obtaining dried seahorses from many countries with bans on seahorse exports, most notably Thailand and the Philippines. Indeed, it is estimated that almost all dried seahorses in Hong Kong SAR (95%) were reportedly imported from source countries despite export bans being in place, indicating a widespread lack of enforcement. More broadly, Trade Regulations, including bans, are likely to be undermined when indiscriminate extraction persists, as with seahorses in bottom trawls and other non-selective fishing methods. Attention must be directed at managing extraction as well as increasing enforcement of Trade bans.
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assessing the changes in international Trade of marine fishes under cites Regulations a case study of seahorses
Marine Policy, 2018Co-Authors: Tingchun Kuo, Amanda C J VincentAbstract:Abstract Trade Regulations may be useful for conserving marine species that are suffering from overexploitation. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has emerged as an instrument to help tighten fisheries management. However, the impacts of CITES Regulations have not been examined for the Trade in fully marine fishes. This study used seahorses (Hippocampus spp.), the first fully marine fishes listed in CITES Appendix II since treaty inception, as a case study. Drawing on Customs data from Taiwan and Hong Kong SAR (which cover pre-CITES periods), iterative-segmented regressions were applied to investigate changes in seahorse Trade corresponding to CITES interventions. Principal component analyses were conducted to understand characteristics of seahorse source countries, and a gravity model of Trade was applied to identify predictors of seahorse Trade volumes. This study found that the total weight of seahorses in documented Trade decreased significantly after CITES implementation, recorded Trade became concentrated in fewer countries, and prices increased. Seahorse source countries were found having more fishers, demersal fish catch and general Trade with China, compared to other range states. However, countries that reported no exports, unchanged export volumes or declining volumes after CITES were similar. In addition, volumes Traded between two countries were found significantly higher when the two countries were closer together or when the source country had a lower per capita GDP or higher demersal catch. This study can help guide targeted actions to maximize CITES effectiveness for marine species.
Alice C Hughes - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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thousands of reptile species threatened by under regulated global Trade
Nature Communications, 2020Co-Authors: Benjamin Michael Marshall, Colin T Strine, Alice C HughesAbstract:Wildlife Trade is a key driver of the biodiversity crisis. Unregulated, or under-regulated wildlife Trade can lead to unsustainable exploitation of wild populations. International efforts to regulate wildlife mostly miss 'lower-value' species, such as those imported as pets, resulting in limited knowledge of Trade in groups like reptiles. Here we generate a dataset on web-based private commercial Trade of reptiles to highlight the scope of the global reptile Trade. We find that over 35% of reptile species are Traded online. Three quarters of this Trade is in species that are not covered by international Trade regulation. These species include numerous endangered or range-restricted species, especially hotspots within Asia. Approximately 90% of Traded reptile species and half of Traded individuals are captured from the wild. Exploitation can occur immediately after scientific description, leaving new endemic species especially vulnerable. Pronounced gaps in regulation imply Trade is having unknown impacts on numerous threatened species. Gaps in monitoring demand a reconsideration of international reptile Trade Regulations. We suggest reversing the status-quo, requiring proof of sustainability before Trade is permitted.
Donna Roberts - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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preliminary assessment of the effects of the wto agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary Trade Regulations
Social Science Research Network, 2008Co-Authors: Donna RobertsAbstract:Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures that regulate movement of products across international borders are necessary to protect public health or the environment, but may also be used to protect domestic producers from international competition. The recent WTO Agreement on the Application of SPS Measures aims to create a set of multilateral Trade rules which allows the legitimate use of Trade Regulations for health and environmental protection, while disallowing their use for mercantilist regulatory protectionism. This paper examines WTO jurisprudence, negotiated settlements of formal complaints, and unilateral implementation of Agreement`s provisions since its entry into force to evaluate whether and how the Agreement has served the interests of the world trading system.
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preliminary assessment of the effects of the wto agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary Trade Regulations
Journal of International Economic Law, 1998Co-Authors: Donna RobertsAbstract:Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures that regulate movement of products across international borders are necessary to protect public health or the environment, but may also be used to protect domestic producers from international competition. The recent WTO Agreement on the Application of SPS Measures aims to create a set of multilateral Trade rules which allows the legitimate use of Trade Regulations for health and environmental protection, while disallowing their use for mercantilist regulatory protectionism. This paper examines WTO jurisprudence, negotiated settlements of formal complaints, and unilateral implementation of Agreement's provisions since its entry into force to evaluate whether and how the Agreement has served the interests of the world trading system. Copyright 1998 by Oxford University Press.
Tingchun Kuo - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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global seahorse Trade defies export bans under cites action and national legislation
Marine Policy, 2019Co-Authors: S J Foster, Tingchun Kuo, Anita Kar Yan Wan, Amanda C J VincentAbstract:Abstract Illegal Trade undermines efforts to achieve sustainable use of wildlife, including marine fishes. This study investigated the illegal Trade of seahorses, among the first taxa of marine fishes to come under global Trade restrictions. Seahorses are listed in Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This designation allows exports of specimens that are sourced sustainably and legally (within CITES rules). However, all countries historically exporting large numbers of seahorses have since banned Trade or are under CITES export suspensions. In particular, Thailand, previously considered the source of about 75% of all wild dried seahorses, suspended exports in January 2016. To investigate global compliance, 220 interviews were conducted with Traders in Hong Kong Specialist Administrative Region (hereafter Hong Kong SAR), the largest entrepot for dried seahorses. This study sought to understand current sources of seahorses (2016–17) and relative volumes from each source. Traders reported obtaining dried seahorses from many countries with bans on seahorse exports, most notably Thailand and the Philippines. Indeed, it is estimated that almost all dried seahorses in Hong Kong SAR (95%) were reportedly imported from source countries despite export bans being in place, indicating a widespread lack of enforcement. More broadly, Trade Regulations, including bans, are likely to be undermined when indiscriminate extraction persists, as with seahorses in bottom trawls and other non-selective fishing methods. Attention must be directed at managing extraction as well as increasing enforcement of Trade bans.
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assessing the changes in international Trade of marine fishes under cites Regulations a case study of seahorses
Marine Policy, 2018Co-Authors: Tingchun Kuo, Amanda C J VincentAbstract:Abstract Trade Regulations may be useful for conserving marine species that are suffering from overexploitation. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has emerged as an instrument to help tighten fisheries management. However, the impacts of CITES Regulations have not been examined for the Trade in fully marine fishes. This study used seahorses (Hippocampus spp.), the first fully marine fishes listed in CITES Appendix II since treaty inception, as a case study. Drawing on Customs data from Taiwan and Hong Kong SAR (which cover pre-CITES periods), iterative-segmented regressions were applied to investigate changes in seahorse Trade corresponding to CITES interventions. Principal component analyses were conducted to understand characteristics of seahorse source countries, and a gravity model of Trade was applied to identify predictors of seahorse Trade volumes. This study found that the total weight of seahorses in documented Trade decreased significantly after CITES implementation, recorded Trade became concentrated in fewer countries, and prices increased. Seahorse source countries were found having more fishers, demersal fish catch and general Trade with China, compared to other range states. However, countries that reported no exports, unchanged export volumes or declining volumes after CITES were similar. In addition, volumes Traded between two countries were found significantly higher when the two countries were closer together or when the source country had a lower per capita GDP or higher demersal catch. This study can help guide targeted actions to maximize CITES effectiveness for marine species.