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Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora

CITES is an international agreement, signed by 184 parties in 1973, designed to ensure that international trade in animals and plants does not threaten their survival in the wild.

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Importance of CITES for Marine Species

Many marine species that are traded internationally are highly migratory—meaning they swim long distances, often crossing national boundaries. Their conservation can only be achieved if nations work collaboratively. That’s where CITES comes in. The agreement provides a legal framework to regulate the international trade of species, ensuring their sustainability and promoting cooperation among CITES members, also known as CITES Parties.

NOAA's Role in CITES

The Endangered Species Act designates the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out CITES provisions. We support the Fish and Wildlife Service by providing guidance and scientific expertise on marine issues.

We are also responsible for many marine species that are listed under CITES. We draw on the expertise of our regional offices and science centers to provide guidance in the implementation of CITES for species under our jurisdiction.

How CITES Works

Species covered by CITES are listed in different appendices according to their conservation status:

  • Appendix I includes species threatened with extinction and provides the greatest level of protection, including a prohibition on commercial trade.

  • Appendix II includes species that are not currently threatened with extinction, but may become so without trade controls. Regulated trade is allowed if the exporting country issues a permit based on findings that the specimens were legally acquired and the trade will not be detrimental to the survival of the species or its role in the ecosystem.

  • Appendix III includes species for which a country has asked other CITES Parties to help control international trade. Trade in Appendix III species is regulated using CITES export permits (issued by the country that listed the species in Appendix III) and certificates of origin (issued by all other countries).

CITES members can make changes to the lists of species in Appendix I and II and to CITES resolutions and decisions at meetings of the Conference of the Parties which convene every two to three years. Countries may list species for which they have domestic regulations in Appendix III at any time.

19th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CITES

The nineteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP19) was held in Panama City, Panama, November 14 to 25, 2022. 

The United States put forward several documents to help ensure the conservation and protection of marine species that are included in Appendix I of CITES.

Totoaba and Vaquita

There was significant support for the strong recommendations made to address the ongoing illegal harvest and trade in totoaba. Totoaba, a finfish found in the Gulf of California in Mexico, is prized in Southeast Asia for its swim bladder. It is illegal to harvest and trade wild-caught totoaba. The gillnets used for the illegal harvest of totoaba also present a significant threat to the critically endangered vaquita porpoise who become entangled in them and drown. Experts estimate fewer than 10 vaquita exist. 

The decisions adopted at the meeting require Mexico to develop a compliance action plan by February 28, 2023. Failure to do so could mean a suspension of trade between CITES Parties and Mexico in CITES-listed species. CITES encourages support of Mexico’s efforts to recover and monitor the wild populations of totoaba and vaquita and eliminate the supply and demand for illegally sourced specimens of totoaba.

Marine Turtles

The Parties adopted a U.S.-proposed resolution to conserve all seven species of marine turtles. The resolution calls for scaled up efforts to address illegal trade, harvest, bycatch, and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that threatens protected marine turtles.  

Seahorses

Adding seahorses in CITES Appendix II (regulated trade allowed) in 2002 reduced pressure of international trade in live animals on some wild populations of seahorses. However, large volumes of dried seahorses continue to be traded illegally, undermining conservation efforts and sustainable management of seahorse populations. This international trade poses a significant threat to the long-term survival of seahorse species. 

The Parties adopted a set of decisions proposed by the United States calling for key actions to conserve seahorses. These decisions call on CITES Parties with ongoing illegal, unsustainable trade in dried seahorses to develop plans of action to ensure future trade complies with CITES provisions.

Sea Cucumbers

The United States also co-sponsored a proposal to include three species of Indo-Pacific sea cucumbers (from the genus Thelenota) in Appendix II of CITES to ensure sustainable, regulated trade in these species.  

Marine Species in CITES

The lists below highlight some of the species listed in CITES Appendices I and II.

Appendix I (hundreds of species):

Appendix II (thousands of species):

More Information

For more information or with any questions, contact Laura Cimo, Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce.

Last updated by Office of International Affairs, Trade, and Commerce on 11/27/2023

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora