CITES

What is CITES?

 

  • CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. CITES regulates the international trade in endangered species, toward reducing the impact of commercial activities on threatened species of flora and fauna.

  • Local species under threat from international trade include conch, coral, marine turtles, parrots, iguanas and orchids, among others. CITES restrictions also apply to products derived or manufactured from listed species. Recognizing the seriousness of this threat, the Cayman Islands became party to CITES in 1978, only five years after it was first agreed. Unfortunately, worldwide many species remain at risk from over-harvesting to supply international demand.

  • CITES does not prohibit trade in all listed species or products – some may still be bought and sold. In these cases, CITES documentation must be prepared, to accompany the products before they can be taken out of or brought into the Cayman Islands.

 

CITES Permit Application

 

Common CITES exports

 

Conch Shells

  • Conch shells, a popular tourist souvenir, are taken from Cayman waters as a by-product of local fishing for their meat. Because acquisition of the shell is incidental to this activity, and because there are currently laws in place to limit the amount of conch fished in Cayman waters, the export of a small number of shells (no more than three) by individuals as souvenirs does not require a CITES export permit. This is in line with the international policy formulated by the Parties to the Convention and the governing CITES Secretariat in Geneva. Please note that some countries may still require that a CITES Permit is issued for the export of conch shells. It is encouraged for individuals to check with the country they will be importing the conch shells into  to make sure they are adhering to that country’s requirements.

 

Marine Turtles

  • Marine turtles are endangered throughout the world so commercial trade in all turtle products is prohibited under CITES. Scientific bodies that are recognized by the Cayman Islands Cites Management Authority are permitted to export samples from marine turtles for research purposes only, though a CITES permit is still required. 

 

Coral

  • It is illegal to take coral from Cayman waters. For this reason, no local coral is used in the jewelry business and the Cayman Islands Government does not allow the export of any raw coral (such as coral found washed up on the shore) from the Cayman Islands. Anyone caught taking specimens out of the Cayman Islands, either by local or overseas Customs, without the proper permits, faces confiscation of the products, fines or imprisonment.

 

Other Native Species

  • Export of other native species, including parrots, iguanas and orchids is also prohibited. Due in part to their rarity, plants and animals such as these are often sought out by unscrupulous collectors, making CITES restrictions an important component of the international conservation of these species.

  • Questions regarding souvenirs, particularly ones made from plant or animal products, and the permitting requirements for these, should be addressed to the Ministry of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency at citesma@gov.ky.