Peru to Consider USG Cites Proposals

UNCLAS LIMA 000256

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KSCA AORC UNEP PE
SUBJECT: Peru to Consider USG Cites Proposals

REF: STATE 6668


1. SUMMARY: EconOff and REO Hub Officers met with officials from
the Ministry of External Relations, Ministry of Environment, Vice
Ministry of Fisheries of the Ministry of Production and Export, and
the Peru Ocean Institute (IMARPE) regarding reftel CITES proposals.
Visiting OES Marine Science Officer Todd Capson attended many of
these meetings and presented USG positions on sharks and coral. On
February 19, the Government of Peru (GoP) will hold an inter-agency
meeting to determine its position on CITES proposals.
Additionally, from February 24-26, a regional meeting of countries
within the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA) will be
held to coordinate positions (but not to necessarily reach
consensus). End Summary.




2. Sharks: GoP officials found it particularly interesting that
Ecuador has committed to support the USG proposal regarding sharks,
even though its third most commercially important species of shark,
Sphyrna zygaena (also known as smooth hammerhead, cachuda blanca or
cornuda prieta),is included in the list. Post was advised that
Sphyrna zygaena is also the third most commercially significant
species for Peru. It was clear from the discussions that GoP
understood the rationale for proposing these species for Appendix
II, and the importance of managing their populations. We heard
unofficially from one GoP interlocutor that the GoP discussion on
sharks would likely lead to support for inclusion of several (but
not all) of the shark species in Appendix II. We reminded that
interlocutor that CITES procedure does not permit an affirmative
vote for only part of a proposal.




3. Coral: Although not of major interest to our interlocutors, a
Ministry of Environment official inquired whether there is actual
support for these proposals.




4. Polar Bear: Some officials questioned to what extent
commercial trade was threatening the polar bear and whether CITES
is a proper tool. They seemed to be somewhat convinced that
commercial trade compounds the threat posed by habitat loss, but a
decision on GoP position is deferred until their inter-agency
consultation.




5. Bobcat; Snake Trade Conservation and Management: On the bobcat
proposal, the officials generally listened to the demarche without
indicating any particular inclination. The Snake Trade
Conservation and Management discussion document was also met with
interest only to the extent of understanding that the USG
co-sponsored a discussion document rather than a proposal.




6. A GoP inter-agency panel will review CITES proposals submitted
on February 19 and develop its position on these proposals. A
workshop will be held on February 24-26 "to coordinate positions"
among the member countries of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty
Organization. This organization includes Bolivia, Brazil,
Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. We were
advised that GoP officials do not anticipate a need to reach
consensus with this body on all proposals.


7. COMMENT: While no promises were made, our interlocutors
understood USG rational on the shark proposal. We anticipate that
the GoP interagency group will weight USG proposals against the
positions communicated by other countries.
McKinley