Guatemala Demarche on CITES for COP15

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000242 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KSCA AORC UNEP GT SUBJECT: Guatemala Demarche on CITES for COP15 REF: A) 10 STATE 6668 ¶1. (SBU) Poloff delivered reftel points to the Sub-Secretary and Fauna Expert at the National Council for Protected Areas (CONAP). Officials speculated, but could not confirm, that the GoG would support the U.S. proposals on coral, the polar bear, the bobcat and the Asian snake study. Likewise, regarding the proposition to list six shark species as CITES Appendix II, they would consult with the Organization for Fish and Fisheries in the Central American Isthmus (OSPESCA),a regional organization, which has already voiced support for the measure. In two weeks CONAP will review the list of US proposals with technical experts from different sectors and establish official positions on each species. Officials noted that, CONAP's Secretary, Claudia Santizo, plans to attend COP15 as the GoG delegate. ¶2. (U) Post requests guidance from OES on how to respond to a CONAP query regarding the U.S. position on Monaco's proposal to include the Blue Fin Tuna as a CITES Appendix I species. Guatemalan fisheries do not contain Blue Fin Tuna, but CONAP expressed worry that Yellow Fin Tuna, which is plentiful in Guatemala, could be added in the future as a "look alike" species. MCFARLAND