Illegal trade in Africa’s high-value marine products escalating

Published 2021년 3월 1일

Tridge summary

A report by TRAFFIC has uncovered underreporting and illegal trade of high-value marine species in Africa, including sea cucumber, seahorse, and fish maw, which is decimating populations and harming local communities. Despite efforts to regulate trade and impose bans, smuggling networks are exploiting legal loopholes. The illegal trade, primarily to Asia, is characterized by discrepancies in import and export reports and is driven by demand for luxury products. The report recommends urgent action, such as stricter regulation and investigation of trade discrepancies, to address this issue. Two sea cucumber species have been listed under CITES to better regulate international trade.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

Only six of the 30 African countries with sea cucumber resources have reported total catch their export totals over the past decade, despite an escalating trend of underreporting and illegal trade of it and other high-value marine species in the region.According to a report by TRAFFIC, an international non-governmental organization that campaigns against illegal trade in wild animals and plants, the current illegal trade in high-value marine products between Africa and Asia – especially of species like seahorse, sea cucumber, and fish maw – is flourishing. That illegal trade is decimating the species’ populations and denying several coastal communities means to a livelihood, the report found.TRAFFIC based the report on findings of a study compiled in September 2020 showing “population declines, inadequate regulation, stretched law enforcement, and local communities impacted by illegal and unsustainable catch and trade.”“As the trade in fish maws, sea cucumbers, and seahorses from ...

Source: Seafoodsource