International Law

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is the only international treaty specifically designed to address the direct exploitation of species involved in international trade. More than 30,000 species of animals and plants are currently protected through CITES, and these protections have helped prevent the extinction of the most imperiled. The vast majority of wildlife species traded around the world are not covered by the treaty, however, and international trade in live animals and animal parts and products has increased tenfold[1] since 1973, when CITES was signed.

AWI’s founder, Christine Stevens, attended the meeting at which CITES was signed, and AWI has played an active role since at meetings of the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoPs), which take place every 2–3 years. More than 30 years ago, AWI cofounded the Species Survival Network (SSN), an international coalition of nearly 90 organizations that works to strengthen CITES and address the increasing threat of wildlife trade to global biodiversity. At each CoP, an SSN reception takes place, during which AWI’s Clark R. Bavin Wildlife Law Enforcement Award is presented (traditionally, by the CITES secretary-general) to individuals and agencies in recognition of exemplary efforts to combat wildlife crime.

International Whaling Commission

The International Whaling Commission (IWC)—created with the 1946 ratification of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling—is one of the earliest international bodies focused on management of wild species. At first, it comprised a small group of industrial whaling nations solely focused on maximizing exploitation amid intense global competition for whale oil. In 1982, however, the IWC approved a moratorium on commercial whaling that would go into effect in 1986 and continues to this day. The IWC also developed a management scheme for subsistence whaling by Indigenous people.

As threats to cetaceans have increased (including from bycatch, vessel strikes, and pollution), the organization has evolved further—building a strong conservation agenda, adopting animal welfare measures, and recognizing the vital ecological role cetaceans play within their ecosystems and in mitigating planetary climate change. 

AWI’s founder, Christine Stevens, who was a key figure in the launch of the Save the Whales movement in the early 1970s, began attending IWC meetings in 1973. In 1992, AWI was officially recognized as an accredited NGO observer. AWI continues to be deeply involved in the work of the IWC, including as active participants in the IWC’s Scientific and Conservation committees, subcommittees, and working groups. As part of AWI’s advocacy efforts, we provide financial support for the IWC’s conservation and animal welfare work, coordinate and host virtual and in-person strategy sessions for the NGO community ahead of IWC meetings, prepare briefing documents on pertinent topics to inform delegates’ decision-making, and facilitate participation at IWC meetings by like-minded NGOs that would not otherwise be able to attend.

Cartagena Convention and the SPAW Protocol

The Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment in the Wider Caribbean Region (commonly referred to as the Cartagena Convention) is the only legally binding regional treaty focused on the protection of biodiversity in the Wider Caribbean. This UN treaty—which was adopted in 1983 in Cartagena, Colombia, and entered into force in 1986—is implemented through three agreements: the Protocol Concerning Co-operation in Combating Oil Spills in the Wider Caribbean Region, the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW Protocol) in the Wider Caribbean Region, and the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities.

From the beginning, AWI has been involved in the Cartagena Convention in general and the SPAW Protocol in particular. The SPAW Protocol (adopted in 1990; entered into force in 2000; ratified by 19 countries in the region) aim  to protect and sustainably manage biodiversity across the Wider Caribbean by protecting endangered species and  their habitats. Hundreds of species receive protections due to their inclusion in the protocol’s annexes, including the American crocodile, hawksbill sea turtle, brown pelican, sandhill crane, St. Lucia parrot, spectacled bear, giant armadillo, Cuvier’s beaked whale, common bottlenose dolphin, and numerous corals.

AWI participates in Cartegena Convention and SPAW Protocol Conferences of Parties and meetings of the SPAW Protocol’s Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee, as well as serving on various SPAW working groups. AWI also cofounded the SPAW Consortium, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations working toward successful implementation of the SPAW Protocol.

International Shark Protection Measures

Numerous countries/jurisdictions around the globe have enacted full or partial bans on shark finning, while other countries and jurisdictions have taken the additional step of enacting complete or partial bans on shark fishing (such that, by inclusion, shark finning is also banned). There are also global treaties and conventions that speak to sharks and shark fishing. Read more about current shark protection measures in place.