PAN MEP wants sea cucumbers added to Habitats Directive

Lisbon, 11 May 2020 - MEP Francisco Guerreiro (PAN) questioned the Commission about ongoing European protection measures regarding the sea cucumber, a species that may soon be threatened with extinction. 

Sea cucumbers are echinoderms, an important element of aquatic ecosystems because they recycle decomposing matter and clean up the sea floor. However, they are also a delicacy in Asia and are highly sought after by fishermen, and even traffickers, for the profit they represent - a trend that has been growing very sharply. As a result, sea cucumber populations in the Pacific are collapsing and could soon reach critical levels in Europe. 

Thus, in 2019, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES or Washington Convention) included sea cucumbers, for the first time, in its Appendix II. This list includes species that are not necessarily threatened with extinction, but that could become so if trade is not closely controlled. 

Bearing in mind that the vast majority of European Union (EU) countries are not taking measures to protect these species, namely Portugal, Francisco Guerreiro asked whether the Commission would act by placing sea cucumbers in the Habitats Directive and what is it doing to monitor and prohibit the illegal trade of these species in the European Union. 

The outermost areas of the Azores, as well as the Ria Formosa in the Algarve, are Portuguese examples of places where sea cucumbers have been the target of excessive and illegal harvest.

See the full question below:

Question for written answer E-002603/2020 to the Commission

Subject: Protection of Sea Cucumbers in the EU

Sea cucumbers are a very important part of aquatic ecosystems as they recycle decomposing matter and clean out the seabed. Sea cucumber populations in the Pacific are collapsing and in Europe, they could also soon reach critical levels. Fishers and opportunists are becoming aware of the profitability of these species, as they are considered a delicacy in Asia. In 2019, CITES included sea cucumbers, for the first time in, its Appendix II, which lists species that are not necessarily now threatened with extinction but that may become so unless trade is closely controlled. 

While Italy declared in 2018 a moratorium on all fishing and transport of sea cucumbers to count its stocks, various EU countries are not taking any action to protect these species, notably the Holothuria Arguinensis. The south of Portugal and the Azores are examples of coastal regions where the illegal harvesting of this animal has resulted in a worrying population decline.

1. Will the Commission add the Holothuria Arguinensis and other sea cucumber endangered species to the Habitats Directive, in the respective Annex(es), following the CITES decision?

2. What is the Commission doing to monitor and to prohibit the illegal trade of these species in the EU?

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