Combatting Illegal Wildlife Trafficking.
Did You Know?
Many shipping companies have proprietary targeting and screening tools to identify suspicious shipments so that leading to more information being requested e.g. about the nature of the goods, before vessel loading or to non-acceptance of the shipment. Additionally, WSC and its Member companies have agreed in principle to integrate the IWT screening tool developed by WWF and NCB into its Cargo Safety Program that originally was developed to screen for mis- and non-declared dangerous goods.
Some regulatory issues are currently in progress before the IWT screening tool can go live to provide for an industry-wide screening tool that would ensure that shipments undergo screening according to agreed standards, complementing the individual carrier’s proprietary screening tool.
Shark Fin Trade
Shark populations continue to decline, driven by the global shark fin trade. 1/3 of shark and ray species have been overexploited to near-extinction, jeopardizing the health of entire ocean ecosystems and food security for many countries. Photo Credit: Adobe Stock.
Approximately 400 species of sharks are found in the world. 54 shark species are protected under CITES Appendix I. Photo Credit: Lano Lan /Shutterstock
Pangolin Trade
23.5 tonnes of pangolins and their parts were trafficked in 2021 alone. China and Viet Nam are the two primary consumer markets for pangolins. Pangolins are insect-eating mammals eating mainly termites and ants. Pangolins are the only mammals in the world covered in scales, made of keratin—the same material that makes fingernails and hair. Photo Credit: M. Shavez/1StopBrunei Wildlife
Pangolins are the most trafficked mammals in the world, accounting for as much as 20% of all illegal wildlife trade! Pangolins are hunted for their scales (used in traditional medicine) and meat (considered a delicacy in some countries). All 8 Pangolin species are under CITES Appendix I. Photo Credit: Andy Isaacson /WWF-US.
Donkey Skins Trade
Approximately 5.9 million donkeys are slaughtered for their skins annually for ejiao (eh-gee-yow), a traditional Chinese remedy. The global shipping industry plays a pivotal role in the donkey skin trade, which often converges with the illicit wildlife trade and other contraband products. Photo Credit: WWF.
Domesticated donkeys are closely related to globally protected CITES Appendix 1 critically endangered African wild ass (Equus africanus). Photo Credit: WWF.
Sea Cucumber Trade
Sea cucumbers are illegally trafficked for consumption purposes. They play a vital role in marine ecosystems, acting as "vacuum cleaners" of the ocean floor, recycling nutrients and maintaining water quality. Photo Credit: Vardhan Patankar.
Their overexploitation through illegal fishing has led to significant population declines and ecological damage. Photo Credit?
Seahorse Trade
There are over 40 different species of Seahorse with the genus Hippocampus, derived from the ancient Greek word hippókampos (híppos meaning "horse”) and kámpos meaning "sea monster”. Male Seahorses carry the baby during reproduction. Photo Credit: IStock
Seahorses are monogamous. Seahorses are flagship species and indicators of ecosystem health. They are heavily traded for consumption in traditional medicine. 15,772,838 - estimated total global number of imported dried seahorses. Senegal - reported the highest number of exports (98%) of dried seahorses in Africa. Photo Credit: A.K.Y. Wan.