Species Survival Network CITES COP16 2013 • Bangkok, Thailand

African Trichechus senegalensis

CoP16. Prop 13 (, and ): Transfer from CITES Appendix II to CITES Appendix I, in accordance with Resolution Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP 15), Annex 1, Paragraphs A i) and v): The wild population is small, and is characterized by “an observed, inferred or projected decline in the number of individuals or the area and quality of habitat” and “a high vulnerability to either intrinsic or extrinsic factors”; and paragraph C ii): “A marked decline in the population size in the wild, which has been either inferred or projected on the basis of a decrease in area of habitat; a decrease in quality of habitat; levels or patterns of exploitation; a high vulnerability to either intrinsic or extrinsic factors”.

SSN VIEW: SUPPORT Adoption of Proposal

The African manatee qualifies for listing on CITES Appendix I because it “[is] or may be affected by trade” and shows a marked decline in the population size in the wild, which has been inferred or projected on the basis of a decrease in area of habitat and a decrease in quality of habitat.

THE AFRICAN MANATEE IS AFFECTED BY TRADE.

The African manatee "is or may be affected by trade" in accordance with Annex 5 of RC 9.24 because it is known to be in trade and that trade has or may have a detrimental impact on the status of the . Manatee meat, oil and other parts are prized in West and Central Africa. Traditionally, trading and bartering of taken by local hunters and fishermen was restricted to local community members, but it has recently increased in scale and geographic scope to include cross-border (international) trade. An active, and increasingly lucrative, black market trade in manatee meat and other products between , Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire, and between , and is having a detrimental impact on the species. In Sierra Leone, the increasing value and low risk of the trade in manatee parts has led to a “Manatee Mafia” that has been responsible for the killing of over 350 manatees between 2007 and 2010.1 There are concerns among range States that such organized commercial hunting will extend to the entire sub-region. In addition to incidents of illegal hunting and trade referenced in the proposal, press articles or published papers have also reported manatee hunting or sales of products in , , Guinea Bissau, Senegal and the river valley between Benin and Niger.2,3,4,5

1 Regional Workshop on the West African Manatee, Wetlands International Afrique, 27-28 April 2011 2 See e.g.: Dossou-Bodjrènou, J.S., Sagbo, P. et Poilecot, P. (2009). Populations et menaces pesant sur le lamantin d'Afrique de l'Ouest. in Manuel de gestion des aires protégées d'Afrique francophone, Patrick Triplet, ed. 2009. 1215pp; 3 Observatoire des Forêts d'Afrique Centrale (OFAC) Les forêts du bassin du Congo - Etat des Forêts 2006. Eds : de Wasseige C., de Marcken P., Bayol N., Hiol Hiol F., Mayaux Ph., Desclée B., Nasi R., Billand A., Defourny P et Eba’a R... Office des publications de l’Union Européenne. Luxembourg; 4 Alemão acusado de tráfico ilegal de animais na Guiné-Bissau. Panapress 7 February 2004 (available at http://www.panapress.com/Alemao- acusado-de-trafico-ilegal-de-animais-na-Guine-Bissau--3-391043-50-lang1-index.html); 5 Les lamantins ou les sirènes du fleuve Niger. Afribone. 19 May 2005 (available at http://www.afribone.com/spip.php? article822). Caça ao manatim põe espécie em perigo. Jornal de Angola. 29/4/12.(available at http://jornaldeangola.sapo.ao/18/0/caca_ao_manatim_poe_especie_em_perigo)

THE WILD POPULATION IS SMALL AND DECLINING.

Although the range of the African manatee is large, covering Figure 1: Range of African manatee most marine and estuary waters and/or river systems in 21 countries from to central Angola (see figure 1), its population is small – estimated at fewer than 10,000 individuals. However, estimating the absolute abundance of African manatees is very difficult as they are hard to survey; they occur in remote and turbid waters, surface briefly and spend unpredictable periods under water. This difficulty is compounded by the lack of resources in developing countries for conducting expensive surveys. Manatee experts estimate that there is a high probability that a 30% or greater reduction in population size will result within a three-generation period (60 years).6

Although this is the only sirenian species not on CITES Appendix I, these experts consider the African manatee to be at the greatest risk of extinction because of the high levels of poverty in many parts of its range. This affects the ability of range States to enforce protection laws and estimate abundance.7

A DECLINE IN QUALITY AND AREA OF HABITAT IS OBSERVED.

Studies and observations over the past decade have shown that the African manatee population is declining due to loss or modification of habitat, fragmentation of water courses by dams, pollution and accidental catch in fishing nets and dam valves.8 These threats are expected to increase due to exceptionally fast human population growth (and water needs) expected in manatee habitat along coastlines and rivers.

HIGH VULNERABILITY TO INTRINSIC AND EXTRINSIC FACTORS.

The manatee is a long-lived, late-maturing that produces a low number of offspring. The African manatee is large, heavy and slow-moving, but undertakes seasonal movements. These factors make it vulnerable to capture in fishing nets. Individual manatees have also become trapped in the valves of irrigation canals and killed during the construction of the dams or port installations. Genetic isolation of populations poses a key threat as manatees lose the ability to move between different sections of rivers and wetlands.

Legal status

 Protected from hunting and trade in all range States, including under the African Convention for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Algiers) though enforcement is deficient due to resource and capacity constraints;  Listed on Annex A of the European Union’s CITES implementing Regulations (commercial activities prohibited);  Listed on Appendix I of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) (taking prohibited);  Subject of a 2008 CMS/UNEP Action Plan that recommends listing on Appendix I of CITES;  Classified as Vulnerable by IUCN since 1978. A new review of the species is anticipated in 2013.

Benefits of an Appendix I listing

 Increased political and media attention to the plight of the species and its habitat;  Increased political will among range State governments to protect the species and its habitat;  Increased funding (from internal and external sources) to improve enforcement of national and international rules;

6 Marsh, H., T.J. O'Shea, and J. E. Reynolds III. 2011. Ecology and Conservation of the - and Manatees. Cambridge University Press. Chapter 8 or Kindle location 9068; 7 Powell, J. & Kouadio, A. 2008. Trichechus senegalensis. In: IUCN 2010. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. www.iucnredlist.org; 8 Wetlands International Afrique. 2010. Stratégie de conservation du lamantin ouest africain; and Marsh, H., T.J. O'Shea, and J.E. Reynolds III, as per supranote 6. 2

 Increased funding and assistance (including from international agencies and institutions) to advance scientific study of the species and its habitat;  Expansion of public education/awareness efforts to promote the protection and conservation of manatees and their habitat.

Recent developments

 On 6 February 2013, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the EU’s strategic objectives for COP16 that urges the European Union and the Member States to support the transfer of the West African Manatee to Appendix I.  On 19 February 2013, 13 range States adopted a Declaration of enforcement, awareness, conservation and research actions to be undertaken in support of the CMS Action Plan that would be complemented by an Appendix I listing.

Credits Illustration, Lucy Molleson Map, Ellen McIlhinney Photograph of manatee meat being butchered for sale, Benin. Chris Aikpe, CERGET

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