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WCC 2016 Rec 099 - Activity Report

Submitted by Matthew.Gollock on Mon, 12/18/2017 - 15:38
General Information
Promotion of Anguillid eels as flagship species for aquatic conservation
IUCN Constituent: 
0B5DC7B3-D2A1-E611-B6EC-005056BA6623
IUCN Constituent type: 
IUCN Species Survival Commission 2017-2020
Period covered: 
2017
Geographic scope: 
Global
In implementing this Resolution your organization has worked/consulted with...
IUCN Members: 
Zoological Society of London ( ZSL ) / United Kingdom
IUCN Commissions: 
F717E09E-5094-E611-97F4-005056BA6623
IUCN Secretariat: 
No
Other non-IUCN related organisations: 
CITES secretariat; TRAFFIC; CMS secretariat; various Range states; Sargasso Sea Commission; Chuo University, Japan; ICES; Philippines Bureau for Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
Implementation
Indicate and briefly describe any actions that have been carried out to implement this Resolution: 
ActionDescriptionStatus
Convene stakeholders/NetworkingThe 1st International Eel Science Symposium was held at ZSL 13th-15th June 2017 - https://ifm.org.uk/events/event/1st-uk-international-eel-science-symposium/. Around 150 delegates attended from five continents, and a workshop, convened by IUCN was held on 16th June. This gathered 20 key delegates in order to collate current thinking on the status of these species in order to publish a peer reviewed-paper; this is presently being finalised and we would expect this to be submitted early in 2018 for review.On-going
Education/Communication/Raising awarenessThe chair of the AESG presented remotely at the first workshop relating to anguillid eels to be held in Indonesia. The presentation focussed on using the Red List as a prioritisation tool and what lessons have been learned from other mechanisms that have been used to manage and conserve these species.Completed
Policy influencing/advocacyThe IUCN AESG took part in both the CITES Animal Committee and Standing Committee meetings in 2017. We have engaged with the secretariat with regard to the delivery of elements of Decision 17.186-17.189 (https://cites.org/eng/dec/valid17/81868) as well as a number of range states in relation to the regional workshops associated with the decisions that are expected to take place in the first half of 2018 prior to the 30th Animal Committee meeting.On-going
Policy influencing/advocacyWorking with the CMS secretariat, the Government of Monaco and the Sargasso Sea Commission, developed of Concerted Actions that were adopted the 12th CMS CoP. This involved engagement with other range states, particularly the EU, and built upon the 1st European Eel Range state workshop that was held in Galway, Ireland in November 2016 - http://www.cms.int/en/meeting/first-range-state-workshop-european-eel. The 2nd Range state workshop is planned for 2018 and members of the IUCN Anguillid Eel Specialist Group (AESG) will be inputting to the agenda and attending.On-going
Scientific/technical activitiesIn collaboration with National agencies in the Philippines - Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and Department for the Environment and Natural Resources - ZSL and TRAFFIC completed the delivery of a three year Darwin Initiative funded project relating to anguillid eels on 30/6/17. This project related to the exploitation and trade of anguillids in rural communities and the freshwater environment more broadly. The project helped to elevate these species in the national and regional context and resulted in several outputs including a trade report - http://www.trafficj.org/publication/14_Slipping_Away.pdf - a number of national workshops, and a regional eel management plan which is being finalised at present. This project was succeeded by another Darwin-funded project that will focus more on the freshwater environment, but anguillid eels will still be a species of focus for the three-year duration. On-going
Please report on the result /achievement of the actions taken: 
Overall, the profile of anguillid eels has increased over the past 12 months, both globally, and also in key regions, such as South East Asia, where poorly understood tropical species are resident. Management and conservation of these species, both in relation to direct exploitation and trade, and indirect anthropogenic impacts, are strengthening, as is the drive to carry out baseline research that will inform these mechanisms. The IUCN AESG has engaged in a number of fora, along with collaborators and species range states, that have fed in to initiatives to increase awareness, build capacity and inform policy.
Identify and briefly describe what future actions are planned for the implementation of this Resolution: 
Future ActionDescription
Policy influencing/advocacyWe will be developing the agenda and attending the 2nd CMS European eel Range State meeting.
Policy influencing/advocacyWe will continue to engage with the CITES secretariat in relation to the delivery of Decisions 17.186-17.189, as well as attending AC30 and SC 70 in 2018.
Scientific/technical activitiesAs part of the Darwin-funded project we will be carrying out studies that will improve our understanding of eel behaviour and movement; and what freshwater protection may benefit these and other species.