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January 26, 2006
Subject:
2005 and 2006 Harvested Sturgeon Caviar and Sturgeon Products
Background: At
the 13 th Conference of the Parties in October 2004, the CITES
countries agreed that from 2006 onward, countries should not import
caviar harvested or processed in a preceding year. Sturgeon caviar
harvested from shared stocks in 2005 was required to be exported
from sturgeon countries by December 31, 2005. The countries also
agreed that no re-export of caviar should be authorized more than
18 months from the date of issuance of the relevant original export
permit. Sturgeon caviar harvested from shared stocks in 2005 that
was legally exported during 2005 may be re-exported in 2006 and
2007 as long as the re-export takes place within 18 months from
the date of issuance of the original export permit.
On January 3, 2006, the CITES Secretariat issued a press advisory announcing
that they were unable to publish the 2006 export quotas for caviar and
sturgeon products (except for aquaculture) until exporting countries provide
more information about the sustainability of their sturgeon catch. Countries
sharing sturgeon stocks must agree among themselves on catch and export
quotas based upon scientific surveys of the stocks. The Secretariat is
concerned that the proposed quotas may not fully reflect the reductions
in stocks or make sufficient allowances for illegal fishing and hopes
that the countries involved will provide the information necessary for
the Secretariat to publish the 2006 quotas.
This was not an official Notification to the Parties with a recommendation
to suspend trade, but rather a press release urging exporting countries
to provide the missing information. It was, however, an alert to importing
countries that if this data deficiency is not resolved, there may be no
sturgeon quotas for 2006 and therefore, no legal international trade in
sturgeon caviar and sturgeon products harvested in 2006 from shared stocks.
Action:
- The United States no longer allow the import of sturgeon caviar
harvested in 2005 and exported directly from countries bordering
the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea/lower Danube, and the Heilongjiang/Amur
River.
- The United States will continue to allow the import of 2005
harvested caviar that was legally exported during 2005 and re-exported
to the United States as long as the re-export to the United States
takes place within 18 months from the date of issuance of the
original export permit.
- The United States will also continue to allow the re-export
of 2005 harvested caviar from the United States as long as that
re-export takes place within 18 months from the date of issuance
of the original export permit.
- Although the 2006 harvest has not yet begun, the trade community
should be aware that the United States could refuse import of
caviar and sturgeon products harvested by any countries bordering
the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea/lower Danube, and the Heilongjiang/Amur
River that do not have approved 2006 quotas.
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