The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) met last week in Panama. The United States put forward several proposals at the meeting to help ensure the sustainability of internationally traded marine species.
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…