Notification to the Parties

CONCERNING:

Trade in specimens of Huso huso from the Caspian Sea

1. The Secretariat has recently received information that demonstrates that the coordinated intergovernmental approach, required in Decision 11.58 for the setting of catch and export quotas for sturgeons and paddlefish, no longer exists in the case of Huso huso in the Caspian Sea basin.

2. Consequently, the Secretariat, as required in Decision 11.58, is withdrawing the catch and export quotas for caviar, meat and skins of Huso huso for Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan, as listed in Annex 1 of Notification to the Parties No. 2002/032 of 2 May 2002. These Parties should now be regarded as having a zero export quota for Huso huso. Listings of quotas on the Secretariat's website will be amended accordingly.

3. The Secretariat recommends that all Parties refuse to accept any export permit for specimens of Huso huso that is issued by Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation or Turkmenistan from the date of this Notification.