A dedicated side event focusing on seahorse conservation will be held during the 33rd meeting of the CITES Animals Committee (AC33) in Geneva, Switzerland. Organized by the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) Seahorse, Pipefish, and Seadragon Specialist Group (SPS SG), the event will take place on Monday, July 15.
Dr Sarah Foster, as our Focal Point for Global Trade, has organised this event to provide a platform for Parties to present their progress in implementing CITES Decision 19.229. This decision, adopted at the 19th CITES Conference of the Parties, encourages countries with evidence of illegal or unsustainable international trade in dried seahorses to develop national or regional action plans to improve CITES implementation.
Several Parties have made significant strides in this regard, and this side event will feature updates and next steps from countries such as Australia, Indonesia, Thailand, and the United States. This gathering will allow these Parties to showcase their progress in creating national plans of action for seahorses, potentially serving as models for other nations. The event promises to be a crucial step in promoting collaborative efforts towards sustainable seahorse conservation worldwide.
