§ Dr. TongeTo ask the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions what representations he has received concerning the re-opening of trade in turtle shells. [116490]
§ Mr. MullinCuba has submitted two proposals to the forthcoming Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The first seeks to transfer the Cuban part of the Caribbean population of Hawksbill turtles from Appendix I to Appendix II in order to allow the export of existing shell stocks and a subsequent quota of up to 500 turtle shells per year. The second seeks agreement to allow a one-off shipment of existing stocks of shell with no subsequent annual quota.
Several organisations and scientific bodies have provided us with their views. Some believe that populations of Hawksbill turtles remain too vulnerable to allow any international trade. Others consider that carefully managed trade would contribute to species conservation. We have also received a large number of campaign postcards opposing the Cuban proposals.
The European Union looks set to oppose the first proposal but to keep an open position on the second pending further consideration at the Conference. The United Kingdom will continue to argue that international trade quotas should be contemplated only in the context of wider action to secure the future of marine turtles by countering threats from fisheries by-catch and the destruction of nesting and breeding sites.