FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular. No. 1058

by
Patrick Christie
Associate Professor
School of Marine Affairs and Jackson School of International Studies
University of Washington 3707 Brooklyn Ave NE
Seattle, United States of America

Enrique G. Oracion
Professor, Department of Sociology and Anthropology
Director, Research and Development Center
Silliman University
Dumaguete City, Philippines

and

Liza Eisma-Osorio
Executive Director, Coastal Conservation and Education Foundation
Lecturer in Environment Law at the University of Cebu
Cebu City, Philippines

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Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Rome 2011

ABSTRACT

Christie, P.; Oracio, E.G.; Eisma-Osorio, L. 2011.
Impacts of the CITES listing of seahorses on the status of the species and on human well-being in the Philippines: a case study.
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular. No. 1058. Rome, FAO. 44p.

This study identifies the legal and socio-economic implications of the recent CITES Appendix II listing of seahorses in the Philippine context. Philippine national law bans the gathering and trade of Appendix II-listed species a more stringent but legitimate policy option within the CITES agreement. However, while technically illegal, seahorse gathering continues and may be increasing. This case study involved site visits, interviews, participant observation, and text analysis leading to a scientific evaluation. It demonstrates that unintended consequences resulted from the listing that should be rectified in the Philippine context and avoided in other contexts. While the Philippine case represents an example of what to avoid, the authors recognize that the listing of seahorses under CITES Appendix II may have a positive impact on generating monitoring and management mechanisms for international trade. This analysis provides important findings that can be used to improve the CITES and take steps to improve CITES implementation and seahorse conservation in and beyond the Philippines. The CITES and its partner institutions should invest more in the development of comprehensive and comparative studies that inform guidelines and improved practice.

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