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We are very active in promoting our members interests locally in the UK, at national government level, at EU level and in global fora. We are active globally to ensure that our international supply chains are maintained.

Examples of international meetings we have attended include:

• Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)
  The CITES Convention has 145 signatory governments. Conference of the Parties (COP's) attended and relevant interests at each are:
  • COP 9, Fort Lauderdale - criteria for listing species on Appendices
  • COP 10, Harare - trade in hard corals and marine fishery issues
  • COP11, Nairobi - trade in hard corals, seahorse discussion

   

  OATA has active and regular discussions and/or correspondence with the UK Management Authority (DEtr), Animals Scientific Authority (JNCC), UK CITES Enforcement team in Customs, and the European Commission.

• Convention on Biological diversity (CBD)
  The CBD has 173 signatory governments. We are the only aquatic trade association attending meetings of this Convention. Among the key themes under discussion are "Marine and coastal biodiversity and the Jakarta mandate", "Freshwater Ecosystems", "sustainable use", and "alien species". Issues such as the fair and equitable distribution of the benefits of using wild caught biodiversity are also considered.

  OATA has taken an active interest in all the issues discussed in this convention and attended the following meetings:

  • COP
    Attended the whole of COP 2 (Jakarta 1995); COP4 (Bratislava 1998); COP5 (Nairobi 2000)
  • Subsidiary Body on Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
    Attended the whole of the following: SBSSTA 1 (Paris 1995); SBSTTA 3 (Montreal 1997); SBSTTA 4 (Montreal 1999)

 

Other activities

OATA has an Interim Directorship and is an active participant in the development of the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) that is concerned with the ecolabelling of marine livestock caught from the wild. OATA has attended meetings since the inception of MAC.

OATA played a very active role in promoting industry co-operation and participation with the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) in the preparation of their report "The Global Trade in Coral".

OATA has made representations to the International Association of the Transport of Animals (IATA) on matters concerning the Live Animal Regulation. Papers presented to meetings of the OIE concerning international rules on fish health and hazard analysis. OATA has participated in an industry response to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) panel decision on importing salmon to Australia, and the government response, as it has affected our industry.

OATA is active in the consultation processes within the EU on issues including the Fish Health Directive, the Animal Transport Regulations, Veterinary Checks Directive as well as CITES issues. An active participant in the UK on establishing and maintaining standards in pet shops in conjunction with local government authorities.