Draft resolution for conservation of hawksbill turtle & angelshark adopted

The 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14) on February 14 adopted the Single Species Action Plan for conservation of the Hawksbill Turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) in South-East Asia and the Western Pacific Ocean Region.

The species entered Appendix I of the CMS listed species in 1985. It shared concerns that the Hawksbill Turtle identified as Critically Endangered under the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species in 2008, the declining population trend raises concerns about their viability. 

It noted the key threats faced by the species were exploitation for its use and trade, which was revealed by the scientific assessment conducted recently in the Indian Ocean South-East Asia Region prepared under the leadership of the Advisory Committee of the Memorandum of Understanding on Conservation.

The other assessment was conducted in the Western Pacific Ocean Region and published as a CMS technical series.

COP14 urged Parties under the ambit of the Single Species Action Plan (SSAP) to undertake immediate actions and implement its provisions.

It has directed Parties to nominate national government representatives and one national expert to implement the action plan and see effective implementation of SSAP.

It also directed to, “Address, as a matter of priority, subject to the availability of resources, essential and high priority SSAP actions as soon as possible, and take into account relevant medium-priority actions in national planning.”

In another discussion, the COP14 also adopted a Single Species Action Plan for the Angelshark (Squatina squatina) in the Mediterranean Sea.

The species is listed on both appendices of the CMS and in Annex 1 of the MoU on the Conservation of Migratory Sharks in 2018. It is also listed as Critically Endangered under the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

The draft resolution sounded alarm with the crucial decline in populations in the past 50 years, owing to extensive exploitation for the slow growing and low productivity species. It noted that the species had become “exceedingly rare” across its historical range. 

The species faces serious threats from intense demersal fisheries, coastal commercial and tourism development, recreational fishers and habitat degradation across its range. 

The adoption was made with an aim to promote the long-term sustainability of the species populations and its habitats by curbing negative impacts due to human activities. The goal is expected to be achieved through strict legislation and enforcements, research, fisheries management measures and increasing awareness and capacity building. 

It urged parties and non-party range states to implement and initiate active collaboration between stakeholders for effective implementation of SSAP. 

It directed the Parties to, “Provide a brief report on the implementation of the SSAP Angelshark Med in time for the last meeting of the Sessional Committee before the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) using a template provided by the Secretariat.”