August 9, 2006 12:52:50 PM GMT
Namibian seals - flier and article
hi everyone
Attached is a trifold brochure I created for the seals along with a
summary of the issue condensed down from 47 pages of Francois'
emails.
Hope you can find some use for it. Feel free to edit, substitute
your name for contact person in the flier etc.
For the seals,
Menkit
(Australia)
SealAlert-SA wrote:
FYI- Francois.
-----
Original Message -----
From:
SealAlert-SA
To:
John
SELLAR
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 2:08 PM
Subject: Re: Trade in seals
Dear
Mr Seller,
Accepted - I will await your findings.
Thank you for replying to these concerns so
promptly.
Francois.
-----
Original Message -----
From:
John
SELLAR
To:
sasealion@wam.co.za
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 1:36 PM
Subject: Re: Trade in seals
Dear
Mr Hugo,
I
can only repeat what I told you earlier today - 'sealing' is not a
matter for CITES. It is a domestic harvesting issue. It
also appears to be a matter that is being determined by a
government department that is not responsible for CITES
issues.
The
provisions of CITES come into effect when an application is made
for a CITES export permit. At that stage, the CITES
authorities (the Management Authority and the Scientific Authority)
would require to determine whether specimens declared for export
had been obtained in a non-detrimental manner and whether they were
legally acquired.
I
appreciate that it may not appear logical if, theoretically, one
was to harvest specimens of a species in a manner that might
arguably predictably be non-detrimental. However, the Convention
does not impose any obligation for Parties to 'look into the
future' in such a manner. The provisions of the Convention take
effect at the time when an export is being considered and not when
the specimens are being harvested. This is because, for many
species, harvests will include both domestic and international
trade use.
I
offered my original comments by way of clarification and do so
again. I do not, however, intend to enter into detailed
correspondence on this subject. Once I have anything relevant
to communicate to you, I will be in contact again.
Yours
sincerely,
"SealAlert-SA"
sasealion@wam.co.za
08/08/2006 01:14 PM
To
John.Sellar@cites.org
cc
Subject
Re: Trade in seals
Dear
Mr Sellar,
Thank you for this reply and insight.
I refer to your third paragraph, as an Appendix II
species -
An export permit may be issued only if the specimen was legally
obtained and if the export will not be detrimental to the survival
of the species -
how then is a Namibian 2006 sealing quota on 75% of the seal
population - still 27% below pre-1993 populations levels - that
will see a total pup extermination or genocidal cull - not
considered a matter of the convention. Considering that these
quotas are given to commercial sealers to export and in which their
regulations state they are required to make use of the whole quota?
Bearing in mind the seal population has still not recovered from
the one third to one half mass die-off's in 1994, 1995, 2000 and in
2001.
Furthermore I refer to your website - Notification to
the Parties no. 2000/060 Geneva 3 November 2000 - Alleged Illicit
trade in ivory. I quota - "With regard to the allegation concerning
Namibia ... the Secretariat responded immediately" (see attached
CITES Notification).
How then can you state CITES does not investigate
allegations?
I understand that CITES does not bring criminal
charges themselves, but does this preclude them from requesting
these charges be laid if allegations are substantiated or making an
official recommendation or bringing in trade restrictions involving
all wildlife trade?
In light of the seriousness of the information placed before you by
Seal Alert-SA, where for example the Namibian Minister acknowledged
that the seal population still 10% lower than pre-1993 level,
doubled the sealing quota and then a month after sealing season
ended, announced it had suffered its largest mass die-off from
starvation and then proceeded to export 117 000 skins in 2002,
where the US seized 5000 and South Africa convicted an importer in
2003- surely these issues should have been addressed as far back as
1994 - and these sealers and or the Minister charged.
I look forward to receiving a report back as urgently as possible,
in light of the fact, that sealing is already over one month into
its sealing season.
For the Seals
Francois Hugo Seal Alert-SA
----- Original Message -----
From:
John.Sellar@cites.org
To:
sasealion@wam.co.za
Sent: Tuesday, August 08, 2006 11:26 AM
Subject: Trade in seals
Dear Mr Hugo,
As discussed in our telephone conversation of this morning, I can
confirm receipt of your messages relating to trade in seal
specimens from Namibia. I have passed a copy of your messages to
the CITES Management Authority of Namibia and have asked it to
comment.
Having noted some of the remarks in media articles that you have
provided to us, I believe it may be useful if I make some comments
of clarification beyond those that I made during our telephone
conversation. I trust this will help avoid any expectations on your
behalf that may not reflect the role and responsibilities of the
CITES Secretariat. I also hope this will help you in any future
dealings you may have with the media and avoid any
misunderstandings being communicated to the media or the general
public.
I wish to emphasize again that CITES is a convention that relates
to international trade. Domestic issues, such as harvesting
and culls, are not a matter for the Convention. Consequently, the
"slaughter of seal pups" cannot be in contravention of CITES, as
referred to in one article.
The CITES Secretariat does not "investigate" allegations.
This is a matter for national authorities. Our role is to
study implementation of the Convention and make any recommendations
that we deem appropriate. Where necessary, if we believe
there is inadequate implementation of or non-compliance with the
provisions of the Convention, we would bring such matters to the
attention of the Standing Committee or Conference of the Parties
and recommend relevant action. However, in the majority of cases,
we are able to resolve such issues through communication with the
country in question.
The CITES Secretariat does not bring criminal charges against
anyone; whether that is individuals, organizations or governments.
Any prosecutions that take place with regard to violations of
the Convention are a matter for national prosecution authorities
and any charges would be brought under national legislation and not
the Convention.
I hope the above comments will be of use.
I will advise you of any information we receive in relation to your
allegations.
Yours sincerely,
