Samoa and Sri Lanka step up to protect the Blue Shark at global migratory species conference
21 October 2017, Manila, Philippines - Approximately 20 million Blue Sharks are killed each year, propelling Samoa and Sri Lanka to jointly propose to place
the species on a special global list asking countries to conserve them and protect their habitat.
The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) is holding its Twelfth Conference of the
Parties in Manila, Philippines next week which Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Palau and Samoa will be
attending. This monumental gathering is held every three years.
The CMS had 124 Parties as of July this year, uniting to protect migratory species placed under two different lists.
Appendix 1 lists migratory species that are endangered and, Appendix 2 lists migratory species which have an
unfavourable conservation status requiring international agreements for their conservation and management.
At the CMS COP12 Samoa and Sri Lanka are proposing that the Blue Shark be placed on Appendix 2 in a show of proactive
conservation.
“The Blue Shark is the most commonly caught large shark species in the world. While its reproductive rate is higher than
that of many shark species, given the numbers that are killed each year, we congratulate Samoa for addressing a
conservation problem before it is too late,” said Ms Juney Ward, the Shark and Ray Officer of the Secretariat of the
Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP).
“We are also pleased that fellow Pacific countries of Fiji and Palau are supporting this proposal and we hope to see
more countries support the listing on Appendix II.”
SPREP is attending the CMS COP12 to provide technical support and advice to the SPREP Member delegates at this key event
that will help ensure the conservation of migratory species crucial to the Pacific islands.
Mammals, birds, reptiles, fish and one insect are listed on the Convention’s two Appendices, including many whales and
dolphins, bats, gorillas, antelopes, albatrosses, raptors, waterbirds, sharks, sturgeons, marine turtles and the Monarch
Butterfly.
“This is the only convention that looks at migratory species, and it’s important because a lot of our species are
migratory in nature. As they cross multiple jurisdictions, the Convention helps ensure that we all work together to
protect and conserve them,” said Ms Ward.
“As it meets once every three years, it’s crucial that our Pacific island region is well represented and our Pacific
voice is heard.”
The Pacific region will be holding two different events over the one week, to highlight the Pacific Whale Campaign as
well as Pacific Shark Conservation. The island region will also be showcased with a booth, and representation at the
High Level Segment through SPREP’s Director General, Mr Kosi Latu.
“We’ll also be providing support at the national level so whatever is agreed to here, on the global stage, will
transcend into action on the ground within our Pacific islands and communities,” said Ms. Ward.
The CMS COP12 is held from 23 to 28 October, 2017 in Manila, Philippines. The Pacific islands is part of the Oceania
Region which consists of Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Palau, Philippines and Samoa. For more information
please visit: http://www.cms.int/en/cop12
Work to enhance and strengthen Pacific representation and engagement at the CMS COP12 is supported by The Pew Charitable
Trusts as well as the Second Phase of the ACPMEA project, an initiative of the African Caribbean Pacific group of
countries, funded by the European Union, implemented in partnership by UN Environment and executed by SPREP.
ENDS….