LISTING OF NEW SPECIES. 14.1 Chile presented the proposal of adding the Pink-footed Shearwater, Puffinus creatopus, to Annex 1 of the Agreement (AC7 Doc 24). Chile noted the main marine threats faced by the Pink-footed Xxxxxxxxxx and other arguments as described in AC7 Doc 24. Chile also thanked the PaCS and SB Working Groups for considering this document. The Chilean delegate remarked that Chile gave priority to the creation of this document and highlighted the assistance of Xx Xxxxx Xxxxxx (Instituto de Fomento Pesquero, Chile), Mr Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx (Subsecretaría de Pesca, Chile), Xx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx (Oikonos, Chile), Xx Xxxxxx Xxxxx (Isntituto Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx), Xx Xxxxx Xxxxx (Xxxxxxx, USA) and Mr Xxx Xxxxxx (Canadian Wildlife Service).
14.2 Ecuador introduced the proposal to include the Galapagos Petrel Pterodroma phaeopygia on Annex 1 of the Agreement (AC7 Doc 25). Ecuador encouraged the AC to review the information provided and recommended that the Fifth Meeting of the Parties (MoP5) include the species on Annex I of the Agreement.
14.3 Convenors of PCSWG and SBWG reported that both groups discussed the proposed nominations and considered that the Pink-footed Shearwater ranked highly using the criteria in AC3 Doc 18, and strongly supported the inclusion of this species in the Agreement. However, both WGs expressed reservations about the inclusion of the Galapagos Petrel. Convenors noted that this species does not score highly under the criteria in AC3 Doc 18, and more research is needed to confirm possible interactions with fishing fleets.
14.4 The Vice-convenor of PCSWG, Xx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx, noted some other general issues discussed by the WG in relation to the criteria for inclusion of new species as presented in the PCSWG Report, such as the ability of the Agreement to provide meaningful action for the species’ conservation. He also noted the concern expressed by the Secretariat in respect to the inclusion of too many species, given the limited amount of resources available.
14.5 The Convenor of SBWG also noted that the incorporation of too many species into the Agreement could be detrimental to the capacity of the Agreement to do its work.
14.6 The Secretariat presented AC7 Doc 20 Rev 1 on the process for evaluating and listing species on Annex 1. The Secretariat proposed formalising the process followed for the four species most recently added to the Annex, and formally endorsing the criteria for choosing candidate species previously presented in AC3 Doc 18. The cri...
LISTING OF NEW SPECIES. 15.1 Proposals to list new species on Annex 1
15.1.1 There were no proposals for listing of species on Annex 1. The Advisory Committee endorsed recommendations from both the SBWG and PaCSWG that any future proposals be presented to the Advisory Committee immediately after a Meeting of the Parties to allow sufficient time for consideration ahead of the following MoP. The Advisory Committee noted that the recommendation would also apply to changes to species listed in Annex 1 arising from taxonomic reviews.
LISTING OF NEW SPECIES. 16.1 The Vice-Chair introduced paper (AC2 Doc 21), proposing an objective procedure for selecting candidate species for inclusion in Annex 1 of the Agreement. It was noted that the First Meeting of Parties requested that a discussion paper on this subject be prepared by the Advisory Committee and that South Africa had offered to take the lead in preparing the paper.
16.2 The procedure proposed would utilise a scoring system using the following seven criteria: global conservation status, listing within the Convention on Migratory Species, rarity, level of endemism, migratory nature, land-based threats, and at-sea conservation threats. On conservation status, the paper used IUCN Red List rating, a CMS listing, degree of endemism and rarity as criteria.
16.3 The approach taken was to assess all 128 extant species of procellariiform seabirds against the above seven criteria, using a semi-quantified scale (e.g. IUCN status Critically Endangered = 4, Endangered = 3; Vulnerable = 2, Near-threatened = 1; and Not Threatened/Least Concern = 0.
16.4 Using the proposed methodology two groups of birds appeared as strong candidates: the three North Pacific albatrosses Phoebastria spp. and three Mediterranean shearwaters of the genera Calonectris and Puffinus. Four southern hemisphere- breeding shearwaters Puffinus spp. scored relatively highly, and so might also be considered as candidate species for listing in the future. All ACAP species scored highly, giving credence to the scoring system.
16.5 The Committee recognised that the criteria used were not fully independent, particularly as rarity and endemism were already taken into account by the IUCN Red List. There were also some concerns expressed about taking account of CMS listing, but it was pointed out that such a listing did identify species for which international co- operation was seen as bringing a benefit. Weighting could be given to at-sea risks against land-based ones, since fishing-related bycatch was already recognized as a key threat to ACAP species.
16.6 The Committee took the view that the paper was a useful start in developing a transparent approach to assessing candidate species for listing on Annex 1 of the Agreement and endorsed the need to use independent criteria. New Zealand offered assistance in developing this approach, given its previous work in this area.
LISTING OF NEW SPECIES. Proposals to list new species on Annex 1 23 18.1 Timing and Venue 23 18.2 Draft Provisional Agenda 23 19.1 Timing and Venue 23 19.2 Draft Agenda 24 ANNEX 1. LIST OF MEETING PARTICIPANTS 26 ANNEX 2. LIST OF MEETING DOCUMENTS 32 ANNEX 3. AC14 AGENDA 34 ANNEX 4. RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE 36 ANNEX 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME 2023 – 2025 44 ANNEX 6. DRAFT ADVISORY COMMITTEE WORK PROGRAMME 2026 - 2028 60 ANNEX 7. ADVISORY COMMITTEE INTERSESSIONAL GROUPS 2024 – 2026 72 ANNEX 8. MOP8 DRAFT PROVISIONAL AGENDA 78 ANNEX 9. DRAFT AC15 AGENDA 80 ANNEX 10. STATEMENTS FROM OBSERVERS – NAMIBIA 82 ANNEX 11. STATEMENTS FROM OBSERVERS – USA 83 ANNEX 12. STATEMENTS FROM OBSERVERS – CHINESE TAIPEI 86 ANNEX 13. STATEMENTS FROM OBSERVERS – BIRDLIFE INTERNATIONAL 87 ANNEX 14. STATEMENTS FROM OBSERVERS – HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL AUSTRALIA 88 ANNEX 15. STATEMENT FROM ARGENTINA REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 8 89 ANNEX 16. UNITED KINGDOM’S RESPONSE TO ARGENTINA’S STATEMENT REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 8 90 ANNEX 17. STATEMENT FROM ARGENTINA REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 11 91 ANNEX 18. UNITED KINGDOM’S RESPONSE TO ARGENTINA’S STATEMENT REGARDING AGENDA ITEM 11 92
LISTING OF NEW SPECIES. 18.1 The Vice-chair introduced AC5 Inf.15 authored by the Secretariat. He noted that paper indicated that several Puffinus shearwaters ranked relatively highly for protection.
18.2 The UK stated that whilst it would consider any formal listing proposals as they arise it felt that ACAP is at a crucial stage of its development, becoming more strategic with the development of priorities, performance indicators and better national reporting and that ACAP should, at this point in time, consider a period of consolidation to embed these new initiatives before considering further listings.
18.3 Australia understood the desire of the UK to avoid dilution of ACAP‘s efforts; however it did not support artificially limiting the conservation capacity of the Agreement when a genuine conservation imperative existed. It noted that proposals for new species would be few in number and frequency and should be treated on a case by case basis, considering the needs of the species and the proposing Parties.
18.4 France advised the Advisory Committee that it would, in consultation with Spain, give consideration to jointly proposing that the Balearic shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus also be added to Annex 1. If such a proposal was desirable, France noted that appropriate supporting documentation would need to be prepared and considered by Advisory Committee members. The Advisory Committee welcomed this advice and looked forward to considering the documentation, noting that a species assessment had been drafted in 2008.
LISTING OF NEW SPECIES. Australia and South Africa to present a paper discussing the desirability of, and necessary mechanisms to enable, the addition of species to Annex 1. Action/expected outcome: Development of an agreed procedure for consideration of proposals seeking the listing of new species on Annex 1 to the Agreement. AC3 Doc 18
LISTING OF NEW SPECIES on Annex 1 of the Agreement
(i) Endorsed further review work on the listing criteria for ACAP species by all the Working Groups.
LISTING OF NEW SPECIES. The Convenor of TWG presented a paper authored by that Working Group on the choice of a standard taxonomy to be used when considering new species for Annex 1 of ACAP (AC10 Doc 22 Rev 1). The Convenor noted that the revisions made to this report since the original were in response to some of the corrections suggested by an information paper from Birdlife International (AC10 Inf 15).
LISTING OF NEW SPECIES. ON ANNEX 1 OF THE AGREEMENT 29
14.1 Consider the nomination of the Balearic Shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus 29
LISTING OF NEW SPECIES. ON ANNEX 1 OF THE AGREEMENT
14.1 Consider the nomination of the Balearic Shearwater, Puffinus mauretanicus ADVICE TO THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
(i) that the Balearic Shearwater remains a strong candidate for listing within the Agreement, based on the degree and types of the threats it faces; and
(ii) should request that future nominations of new species to the Agreement be accompanied by both draft ACAP Species Assessments and action plans to provide comprehensive information on conservation status and threats, and options for management.
