CMS SHARKS MOU: AUSTRALIAN OBSERVATIONS

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000083 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR OES/OMC DAVID HOGAN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV EFIS PHSA AS SUBJECT: CMS SHARKS MOU: AUSTRALIAN OBSERVATIONS REF: SECSTATE 10014 ¶1. (SBU) Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) executive officer Ji-soo Woo contacted econoff on February 3 regarding Australian views on the non-paper (reftel) we provided to the GOA on shark conservation. Woo thanked us for the information, and indicated Australia was very interested in comparing notes with the U.S. delegation at the Sharks III Manila meetings. ¶2. (SBU) Woo did say that Australia prefers to adopt an automatic inclusion clause for all shark species in the MOU, as it provides the "most straightforward, independent process for future additions to the MOU." Woo pointed out that any species included in an appendix to the MOU will have already gone through rigorous scientific assessment, and automatic inclusion would prevent a double burden in assessing a species under the MOU. Woo said that the GOA's representative at the meetings will be Nigel Routh from the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Routh's email contact is nigel.routh@environment.gov.au. Communications with Routh should also cc Narelle Montgomery (narelle.montgomery@environment.gov.au) and Anthony McGregor (anthony.mcgregor@environment.gov.au) as well. BLEICH