SEAFDEC takes part in the 18th AWG CITES and WE

The representatives from the SEAFDEC Secretariat, Policy and Program Coordinator, Dr. Worawit Wanchana, and Senior Policy Officer, Ms. Pattaratjit Kaewnuratchadasorn, took part in the open session of the 18^th Meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on CITES and Wildlife Enforcement (AWG-CITES and WE) on 31 May 2023 via the online platform. SEAFDEC was invited as one of the international partners undertaking activities relevant to CITES, particularly on marine resources management. At the open session, SEAFDEC presented its activities in addressing CITES-related issues including the Regional Technical Consultation (RTC) on Development of the ASEAN-SEAFDEC Common Positions on the Proposed Listing of Commercially-exploited Aquatic Species (CEAS) into the CITES Appendices on 30 August–1 September 2022 which came up with the positions of the countries on the proposed listing commercially-exploited aquatic species (CEAS) into the CITES Appendices i.e. Carcharhinidae spp., Sphyrnidae spp., Potomotrygon spp. Rhinobatidae spp, Thelonota spp., and Hypancistrus zebra.

In addition, SEAFDEC provided information on the ongoing projects focused on capacity development, namely: “Research for Enhancement of Sustainable Utilization and Management of Sharks and Rays in the Southeast Asian Region” and “Sustainable Utilization of Anguillid Eels in the Southeast Asian Region.”