A Resounding Cry for Reason

"A Resounding Cry for Reason is Vital at CITES" is a Gulf Times editorial that I wrote as the Shark Research Institute's Director of Conservation Strategies at the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), the UN treaty between 178 nations which convened in 2010 in Doha, Qatar. This op-ed piece broadcast why sharks urgently needed CITES protection. Distributed in English, French and Spanish, this preemptive article came out prior to the shark proposals voted on throughout the upcoming week.

In a critical proposal for a trade ban on the endangered Atlantic bluefin tuna, Japan orchestrated a fervent campaign to deny protective status. Japan imports 80% of all bluefins and has immense freezing capacity to store all they can buy. They're literally banking on this species' extinction, upon which their stockpile of bluefins will soar in value.

Japan and its compromised allies colluded with the Chinese delegation, exchanging votes to deny a trade ban for bluefins in return for Japan's coalition to vote against protections for sharks. A similar offer was attempted by a bloc of African states towards the EU, an obscene swap of "your tuna for our elephants", which the Europeans rightfully rejected.

Despite overwhelming scientific evidence supporting protection, not only bluefins, but all proposed marine species were refused trade bans. At least 2/3rds of the delegates voted as Japan dictated. This solely profit-driven outcome was the complete opposite of what CITES was created to prevent.

On the night before the tuna vote, Dr. Sylvia Earle, President and Chairman of Mission Blue and Honorary President of Shark Research Institute, spoke to delegates at an event honoring Palau for shark conservation. She emphasized the critical need to protect tunas, sharks and all aquatic beings. Dr. Earle said:

"We have 10 years, no more, it is happening right now in our time. If we do nothing and continue the way we are, it will be all over. More and more will simply vanish. And it will be our fault."