JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO U.S. CITES PROPOSALS

UNCLAS TOKYO 000280 SENSITIVE SIPDIS OES/ENRC FOR LGAMBLE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV KSCA CITES AORC UNEP JP SUBJECT: JAPAN'S RESPONSE TO U.S. CITES PROPOSALS REF: STATE 6668 ¶1. Econoff delivered points on terrestrial proposals contained in ref to Ministry of Environment Nature Conservation Bureau Senior Assistant Director Keiji Nakashima February 2 and points on marine proposals to Fisheries Agency of Japan Ecosystems Conservation Office Assistant Director Hideki Moronuki February 9. ¶2. Nakashima said that since Japan is not a range state for polar bear, bobcat, or lynx, Japan is likely to go along with the consensus among range states. He had the following to say about individual proposals: -- Polar bears: while senior officials in the MOE have not yet cleared on an official GOJ position, working level officials believe listing polar bears may be premature and believe threats to polar bears are from climate change, not trade. --Bobcat: the U.S. fur identification manual is well done, but it is still unknown how effective the manual will be in preventing look-alike trade in lynx. Japan is waiting to hear conclusions of expert level consultations within the EU on the subject, and would likely go along with the EU consensus. --Snake trade workshop: the MOE working level does not think trade in snakes is an issue, but they are still evaluating the proposal. ¶3. Regarding the U.S. proposals on sharks and coral, Moronuki gave the standard GOJ response that fisheries resources should be managed by RFMOs and the FAO, and CITES is not the appropriate body to manage sustainable use of marine resources. He provided a copy of Japan's comments on proposals to amend appendices I and II, which the GOJ has submitted to the CITES Secretariat. Moronuki commented that the CITES proposals appear to have stimulated RFMOs to consider better management of sharks, which the bodies have neglected to do thus far. ROOS