§ Mrs. GordonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions (1) what progress is being made with the United Kingdom listing proposal for the basking shark under Appendix II of CITES; and which countries have indicated that they plan to support the initiative; [93194]
7W(2) what representations the United Kingdom will make to range states to seek their support for the United Kingdom listing proposal for the basking shark under Appendix II of CITES; and if he will make a statement. [93193]
§ Mr. MealeA UK proposal to add the basking shark (Cetorhinus maximus) to Appendix II of the CITES Convention was submitted to the CITES Secretariat on 14 May. It was circulated for comment to all 145 CITES parties, including range states, on 31 May. We will consider responses before making a final decision on whether to submit the proposal to next year's 11th CITES Conference, by the Secretariat's deadline of 12 November 1999. We have already received indications of support from several countries.