Act Now to Stop International Trade in Endangered Animals

In March 2010 the United States will participate in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Conference of the Parties. The CITES treaty is an international effort to conserve endangered species by restricting trade in rare wildlife. Right now, the United States is developing its negotiating positions and deciding which species it will support trade restrictions on.

Polar bears, corals, sharks, and bluefin tuna are endangered worldwide due to climate change, habitat destruction, human overpopulation, and a host of other threats. They can't withstand the added threat of lucrative international trade in rare wildlife.

For these at-risk species to have a fighting chance, the United States must vocally support strict controls on international trade at the CITES conference. Please send a letter today urging the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to push for the full protections imperiled species like the polar bear, corals, sharks, and bluefin tuna need to survive.

*Fields marked with an asterisk are required. If you live outside of the U.S. or Canada, enter "other" for state/province.

Please submit comments by January 4, 2010.

Polar bear photo (c) Pete Spruance.

Polar bears: The Center has succeeded in listing the polar bear as a threatened species in the United States due to climate change and diminishing sea ice, but many polar bear populations worldwide are declining. While domestic law prevents U.S. imports and exports of polar bear items, Canada, Greenland, and Norway allow significant international trade in such goods. This trade must be strictly monitored and regulated in order to halt high harvest levels of this vulnerable species.

Corals: Beautiful red and pink corals have been decimated by overharvest for jewelry and art. Potentially living for more than 100 years, corals also face threats from climate change and ocean acidification. Warmer sea temperatures have caused mass mortality of colonies because of stress and disease. These species cannot sustain continued commercial harvest to feed international demand. Although climate change threats will continue to threaten corals, reducing harvest will make them more resistant to this stress.

Sharks: Pelagic shark species such as hammerhead sharks and oceanic whitetip sharks occur in international waters and frequently cross national boundaries, making coordinated international management crucial to their survival. Most, if not all, shark species are being depleted by poorly regulated fishing and trade. Strict controls on international trade are essential to sharks' conservation.

Atlantic bluefin tuna: The western Atlantic bluefin tuna is critically imperiled. As early as 1975, the National Marine Fisheries Service recognized the devastating impact that overfishing has had on Atlantic bluefin tuna, and the population has plummeted by more than 80 percent since that time. Demand from international markets has increased so that a single fish is worth tens of thousands of dollars. This drives the fishery and has pushed the species to the brink of extinction.