By: Hannah Reid     From Ministry of Sustainability & Climate Resiliency

The Ministry of Sustainability & Climate Resiliency has recently launched a new, digital CITES Permit application form. This innovation improves the experience for permit applicants, improves the application process and introduces new measures that will help the Ministry to more securely regulate the trade of endangered species.

CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) is an international agreement between governments that aims to ensure that the international trade of animals and plants does not threaten the survival of the species. CITES does not prohibit trade in all listed species or products – some species, or products of those species, may still be bought and sold. In these cases, official CITES documentation must be obtained, to accompany the products before they can be taken out of, or brought into, the Cayman Islands.

Examples of some local species that are under threat from international trade include conch, coral, marine turtles, parrots, iguanas and orchids. CITES restrictions also apply to products derived or manufactured from the listed species.

Minister for Sustainability & Climate Resiliency, Hon. Katherine Ebanks-Wilks, said the Cayman Islands was an early supporter of CITES and remains committed to upholding global environmental best practice.

“The Cayman Islands recognised the serious threats that the illegal trade of endangered species would pose to our islands from early on and became a party to CITES in 1978, only five years after it was first agreed. Every year, the Ministry processes dozens of applications ranging from tourists wanting to bring home a conch shell as a souvenir of their visit to our beautiful shores, to local scientists needing to export samples of genetic material for overseas testing. This new, digital form will improve the experience for applicants, reduce permit processing time, and has facilitated the introduction of new measures to help the Ministry more securely regulate the trade of endangered species,” Minister Ebanks-Wilks said. “The Ministry recognises that our local biodiversity is a global resource and we are committed to doing our part in the global effort to safeguard endangered species of animals and plants. We have also shared the details of our system with our colleagues in the United Kingdom’s Department of Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs (“DEFRA”) for passing on to the CITES Secretariat, in the event that other CITES Member countries may find it helpful in improving their own systems.”

The Ministry’s role as the CITES Management Authority for the Cayman Islands requires close collaboration with the Department of Environment, the Department of Agriculture, and Customs and Border Control. The new digital application form adds the requirement for a photo of the specimen or product being imported or exported, reducing the risk of species misidentification and enhancing accountability throughout the process.

“The Ministry is delighted to be able to offer an increased user-friendly and efficient way for persons to apply for their CITES Permits. This is one more step in our journey to providing World Class service to the people of the Cayman Islands” stated Acting Chief Officer Troy Jacob. 

To access the new digital application form, and to obtain more information about applying for import or export CITES Permits, please visit: https://www.gov.ky/sustainability/cites

Questions regarding souvenirs, particularly those made from plant or animal products, and the permitting requirements for these souvenirs, should be addressed to the CITES Management Authority at: [email protected]