How a 5-Question Approach Can Ensure Sustainable Trade in Threatened Wildlife
We are excited to introduce a new tool from our recent paper, supporting the sustainable international trade of wildlife: the 5-Question approach.
As marine conservationists, protecting seahorses and the ocean has always been at the heart of our work. Our oceans are rich with life, but they also face significant threats from unsustainable fishing and trade.
Our 5-Question approach focuses on helping national governments meet their obligations under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Our framework helps assess the pressures wild populations are facing, the extent to which those pressures are being managed, and whether such actions are having positive impacts on species conservation.
We recently applied our new method to the seahorse trade in India as a case study to demonstrate its application. India, a CITES Member, is a country where seahorse exploitation remains a concern despite its domestic ban on their fisheries and trade. Such a national ban exceeds requirements under CITES export regulations for seahorses; these fishes are listed on Appendix II of the Convention, requiring that countries ensure their exports do not damage wild populations and are legally sourced.
Given that capture and smuggling of seahorses persists in India despite the ban, we were eager to see how catch and trade might instead be regulated. Through fisher interviews, data mapping, and field research, we were able to identify gaps in regulation and enforcement, highlighting the need for better management. From assessing species distribution to understanding the pressures they face, and from evaluating management measures to monitoring population health—our tool allowed us to see where conservation efforts are working and where they need improvement.
At Project Seahorse, we are committed to ensuring sustainable use practices while protecting these vulnerable marine species. We are hopeful that our 5-questions approach will facilitate all national governments to move toward sustainable trade and meet their obligations to CITES. Although initially developed for seahorses, the approach is adaptable to all species listed on Appendix II, whether aquatic or terrestrial, helping to reconcile sustainable trade and effective conservation efforts across diverse ecosystems.
Vaidyanathan, T., Foster, S.J., Ramkumar, B., and A.C.J. Vincent (2024) A practical approach to meeting national obligations for sustainable trade under CITES. Conservation Biology, https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.14337