The workshop about the "Zoo Directive" and the CITES- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora is one of the activities of the project “Marine Biodiversity Conservation Center "Boka Aquarium" - MonteAqua ", which the Institute for Marine Biology of Kotor is carrying out in cooperation with the Center for Fisheries and the Protection of the Biodiversity of Groundwater Institute of Biology and Ecology at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the University of Kragujevac. The project was made possible by the donation of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by the Norwegian embassy in Belgrade.
Over 20 participants from various institutions from Montenegro and the region discussed the experiences of Montenegro in the implementation of EU directives, but also the necessity of harmonizing the legal framework with the legal framework of the European Commission in the process of EU accession.
The theme of the workshop is based on EU Directive 1999/22 / EC on the Control of Wild Animals in Zoological Gardens and the CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Animals and Plants. The "Zoo Directive" aims to strengthen the role of the zoo in the preservation of biodiversity. The Directive calls for member states to adopt licensing measures by taking regulations on wildlife trade by implementing CITES and ensuring that trade does not endanger the survival of these species in nature.
The directive and convention also imply an overview of zoos (aquariums) to ensure that zoos (aquariums) respect certain conservation and protection measures, including appropriate animal housing. The lecturers at the workshop presented the transposition of the EU law in Montenegro related to the directive and the convention as well as experience and advice on implementing the directive on the example of the aquarium in Dubrovnik (Croatia).
A representative of the Environmental Protection Agency of Montenegro, Mr. Vladimir Pavićević, said what constitutes the CITES Convention and emphasizes that this convention regulates the traffic of nearly 36 000 different plant and animal species.
"It is estimated that at the annual level the value of wildlife trade and plants, as well as their derivatives, reaches a couple of billion dollars and includes hundreds of millions of wildlife specimens. If this type of trade is not adequately controlled, the consequences can be drastic, as irreversible fading of species," Pavićević said.
The CITES Convention was ratified by the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 2001 and entered into force in May 2002. Following the independence, Montenegro has continued the implementation of the convention in its territory since June 2007. In the last 5 years, the most commonly issued CITES import licenses are: derived from the Prunus Africana (pills), seedlings of certain plant species from the cactus family, orchids and palms, as well as parrots.
A representative of the Customs Administration, Lidija Vukčević, emphasized the need for closer cooperation with the reference scientific institutions that must support the determination of plant and animal species from the list of protected and endangered species, without proper permits, should not be introduced across borders. She also pointed out that the import, export of wild species of plants, animals and mushrooms can only be carried out with the permission of the Environmental Protection Agency, in accordance with confirmed international treaties, and that the transit of these organisms through the territory of Montenegro is done on the basis licenses for export or import are issued by the competent institution of the country. Imports and exports of the said organisms can only be carried out through border crossings where there is organized veterinary and phytosanitary control. Ms. Lidija Vukčević stated that the most common organisms that are transmitted over the border are birds and that there are also frequent cases of reptiles and various herbs. “If we talk about aquariums, then there are various coral and tropical fish that can be passed over the border.”
Prof Valter Kožul, within the part of the workshops dedicated to the Zoo directive, conveyed the experiences of the Dubrovnik Aquarium, which has existed since 1956 and is now within the Institute for the Sea and Coastal Area of the University of Dubrovnik. Mr. Kožul stated that during the past years research in the aquarium focused on the cultivation and maintenance of protected and new species in mariculture. He also pointed out that aquarium organisms are provided with hunting with their own sting, trammel nets and pots, octopus from farms, purchase and cooperation with fishermen as well as exchange with other aquariums.
Aquariums can be used as a single aspect of biodiversity protection by which various measures and procedures endangered by plant and animal species will protect them against negative man's action. The protection consists of a whole set of methods and actions that fall within the field of science, law and applied biological disciplines (forestry, agriculture, horticulture, pharmacy etc.).
Soon, the Institute of Marine Biology will announce an international tender for the selection of contractors for the first Center for the Protection of Biodiversity in Montenegro. This center will consist of two organizational units. The first is the Aquarium Boka, and the Second Center is a shelter for injured and endangered marine organisms. Aquarium of the Bay will be the first public marine aquarium in Montenegro, - said the project manager of MoneAqua dr Radoje Laušević. “Its function is public and we want to present the most distinctive fish species of the Adriatic Sea and the Mediterranean Sea to all interested visitors, but also to carry out very important scientific research activities with the aim of spotting these same species. The Center for the Rescue of Hurt and Endangered Marine Organizations will "welcome" all the organisms that unscrupulous citizens want to escape from their homes or the customs of Montenegro seized on the border because they are subject to the control of rare and endangered plant and animal organisms”, Laušević said. Dr. Rudica Simić from Kragujevac said that the opening of the aquarium is planned for June 2020.
At the workshop, it was concluded that priority was given to close communication between competent institutions in controlling rare, endangered, protected species from the CITES traffic list. There is also a need for stricter and more detailed controls at the borders, as there is a knowledge that transfers to such organisms are carried out in large numbers over the border without notification. So far most of the problems have been with the illegal transport of some species of birds. The CITES list is extensive, but it is necessary periodically to renew it. A small number of cases of smuggling are discovered, but even when the court proceeding is discovered, it is long and there is still no practice to impose adequate fines or prison sentences prescribed by law. The taking of specimens of live animals of endangered species found in cross-border trade or trade contrary to the provisions of the Convention and the national regulations is a particular problem because of the temporary disposal of these animals until the final decision of the court as well as on permanent disposal. For the successful implementation of the measures prescribed by national regulations, there is a need to have a number of wildlife hospitals with appropriate volunteers and reception facilities, expert staff and appropriate equipment.
Source: IBM Kotor
