經過一整年的禁令，裏海魚子醬的出口終於放行。控管這項奢華美食貿易的國際組織，將於2007年允許開放裏海3種鱘魚的魚子醬出口。至於世界上品級最高、由白色大鱘魚(Beluga)所出產的魚子醬，今年仍尚未核准開放。
聯合國華盛頓公約組織（CITES）秘書處2日發表2007年俄羅斯、兩河流域和裏海地區的星狀鱘魚魚子醬及魚肉的出口額度。
2006年，秘書處未公布裏海鱘魚魚子醬出口額度，是因為亞塞拜然、伊朗、哈薩克、俄羅斯及土庫曼等五個重要國家，在其鱘魚捕撈的永續作法上未能提供足夠的資訊。
「聯合國華盛頓公約組織去年的這個決定，明顯幫助5個裏海國家聯合進行的監測計畫和科學評估快速地改進，」CITES秘書長威斯塔克表示。「而白色大鱘魚不可能再度開放，因為這5國所提供的資訊還不完整。」
華盛頓公約組織的169個會員國要求秘書處確保鱘魚和魚子醬的開放出口通過了所有必需的標準和程序，秘書處同意5國在1月底前提出缺漏的資訊，然後針對白色大鱘魚魚子醬的出口做出最後決定。
美國環保組織「拯救鱘魚」、美國Pew海洋科學中心保育運動、海洋網和自然保育委員會，2日要求華盛頓公約組織在2007年繼續停止白色大鱘魚魚子醬的貿易，讓這種生物在有機會復育。Pew海洋科學中心的皮基區博士表示，「最新的資料顯示這個高度瀕危的白色大鱘魚情況更為惡劣，華盛頓公約組織若再度開放貿易，是完全沒有道理的。」
但是華盛頓公約組織表示，鱘魚的保育有賴其產品的銷售。「2007年鱘魚產品的銷售收入將能提供動機和方法，讓我們能繼續為這種在經濟上和生態上皆很脆弱的自然資源進行長期復育。
Exports of caviar from three Caspian Sea sturgeon species will be permitted this year by the international organization that controls trade in the luxury delicacy after a year when no Caspian exports were allowed. Exports of beluga, the world’s most valuable caviar, are not yet authorized for 2007.
The Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species, CITES, today published export quotas for Russian, Persian and stellate sturgeon caviar and meat from the Caspian for 2007.
In 2006, the Secretariat did not publish caviar quotas for the Caspian Sea’s sturgeon fisheries because the five countries concerned - Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan - did not provide enough information about the sustainability of their sturgeon catch.
"The decision taken by CITES last year not to publish caviar quotas has undoubtedly helped to spur improvements to the monitoring programs and scientific assessments carried out jointly by the five Caspian neighbors," said CITES Secretary-General Willem Wijnstekers. It has not been possible to publish quotas for beluga, because the information provided by the five range States is not yet complete, Wijnstekers said.
Tasked by the 169 CITES member states with ensuring that all required criteria and procedures for publishing sturgeon and caviar quotas have been met, the Secretariat has granted the range states until the end of January to provide the missing information before a final decision on beluga caviar is made.
Caviar Emptor, a campaign of U.S. conservation groups Pew Institute for Ocean Science, SeaWeb and the Natural Resources Defense Council, today urged CITES to keep the beluga caviar trade closed for 2007 in order to give this species a chance to recover. Dr. Ellen Pikitch of the Pew Institute for Ocean Science said, "The most recent data shows that the condition of the highly endangered beluga sturgeon is worsening, and it would be unconscionable for CITES to open the beluga caviar trade."
But CITES says sturgeon conservation depends on the sale of sturgeon products. "The income earned from the sale of sturgeon products in 2007 should provide both an incentive and the means to pursue the long-term recovery of this commercially and ecologically valuable natural resource," Wijnstekers said today.
作者
In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.
