What & Who is CITES CoP20 and what will the impact be on the community and environment because of the proposal on dried abalone?
I was privileged to attended a consultation meeting on the 29 August at the Arabella Hotel on the various proposals that will be listed at the CITES CoP20 conference. The dried abalone proposal was also under discussion and, given the significant developments in South Africa on this issue, there was quite a heated debate surrounding the matter with various parties present including the public.
The government has recently enacted new compulsory specifications for dried abalone, and the proposal for listing on CITES Appendix II is heading for a vote at CoP20 in Uzbekistan later this year.
Representing the BBRA (Betty’s Bay Ratepayers Association) and SEAWATCH, we made it clear that we are in favour of the proposal.
CITES CoP20 refers to the 20th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It is a major international summit where member countries discuss and vote on proposals to regulate the trade of wild animal and plant species.
Who is involved?
The CITES parties: Representatives from the 185 countries that have signed and ratified the CITES convention. These member countries are legally bound by the decisions made at the conference.
The CITES Secretariat: The body that administers the convention, provides technical assistance and prepares for the meetings.
Specialized committees: These include permanent groups like the Animals Committee, Plants Committee, and Standing Committee that review issues and provide recommendations.
Non-governmental organizations (NGOs): Organizations like TRAFFIC and the African Wildlife Foundation attend as observers and provide expert analysis, data, and advocacy.
Indigenous peoples and local communities: These communities are increasingly involved in the process, especially concerning issues related to sustainable use and livelihoods.
What happens at CoP20?
The CoP meets every two to three years to review the convention’s implementation. The 20th meeting will be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, from November 24 to December 5, 2025. The meeting is timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of CITES’ entry into force.
During the two-week meeting, participants will:
Review progress on species conservation included in the CITES Appendices.
Consider and vote on proposals to amend the CITES appendices, which classify species based on their conservation status and trade restrictions.
Discuss key documents and reports from the secretariat and committees.
Adopt recommendations and resolutions to improve the effectiveness of the convention, including issues like enforcement, illegal trade, and sustainable use.
Address strategic matters related to international cooperation, wildlife crime enforcement, and technology.
A primary focus at CoP20 is expected to be on balancing conservation goals with the livelihoods of people who depend on wild species for their food and income.
The South African proposal to list dried abalone (Haliotis midae) on CITES Appendix II at CoP20 aims to combat rampant illegal trade, which has caused severe environmental and socio-economic damage. The proposal only targets dried abalone, the form most often trafficked by criminal syndicates, while excluding live, frozen, and canned products from the regulated aquaculture industry.
Environmental impacts
Preventing wild stock collapse: Wild abalone populations have plummeted by as much as 90% in some areas due to illegal poaching. A CITES Appendix II listing would provide international enforcement tools to disrupt illegal trade networks, thereby protecting wild populations from collapse and allowing them to recover.
Protecting marine ecosystems: The over-harvesting of abalone has knock-on effects that disrupt fragile marine ecosystems. A recovery of abalone stocks would help restore balance to the ecosystem.
Risk to wild genetics: Uncontrolled seeding of farmed abalone stock for “ranching” could pose a risk to the genetic integrity of wild populations, an issue that may need to be addressed as ranching projects grow.
Community impacts
Targeting illegal trade, not legal livelihoods: The proposal is crafted to strengthen the legitimate abalone industry, which primarily exports live, frozen, or canned products. It will not create new regulatory hurdles for these operations, safeguarding jobs and the integrity of legally produced goods.
Disrupting criminal networks: The illegal abalone trade is run by criminal syndicates involved with drugs, money laundering and gang violence, which causes severe social problems in coastal communities. By allowing importing countries to verify the legality of shipments, the CITES listing would choke off this illegal trade.
Addressing livelihood disparities: Some observers note that the growth of illegal harvesting is partly driven by economic desperation in coastal communities, where access to fishing quotas has been a long-standing point of contention. A CITES listing does not directly address these root causes, but the South African Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) has emphasized its commitment to fostering sustainable industries and exploring abalone ranching as an alternative livelihood.
Impact on small-scale fishers: Critics express concern that the CITES listing alone may not be enough to counter the entrenched abalone mafia and could further marginalize traditional fishers who were pushed into illegal harvesting out of necessity. Some believe that an Appendix II listing would increase the value of illegally harvested abalone, further incentivising criminal organizations.
Elsa Stofberg