Fish and Wildlife proposes beluga import ban exemptions

Fish and Wildlife proposes beluga import ban exemptions    The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed exemptions, that if met, would allow imports of beluga caviar and beluga sturgeon meat and byproducts to continue to enter the U.S. market.
   The agency proposes the exemptions under the Endangered Species Act. All populations of beluga sturgeon were listed as threatened under the Act on April 21.
   “Our proposal is to allow continued trade in these products contingent upon Black and Caspian Sea countries developing cooperative management plans, sharing information concerning policy decisions, and reducing the illegal trade,” said Steve Williams, director of Fish and Wildlife, in a statement.
   Countries affected by the proposed rule are Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Ukraine. Only seven countries allow commercial harvest and export of beluga sturgeon: Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Iran, Kazakhstan, Romania, Russia and Turkmenistan.
   For U.S. importers to use the proposed exemption, these countries must provide written management plans, annual reports, and copies of national fishing laws within six months of finalizing the proposed exemptions, the agency said. If they do not, U.S. importers must comply with all the permitting requirements under the Endangered Species Act.