Change of Date-  Due to an unforeseen schedule conflict, the joint NOAA/USFWS information session to answer questions about importing and exporting marine mammal samples from and to the United States under CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) will be held on Tuesday, November 29th at the Society for Marine Mammalogy 19th Biennial Conference.

A representative from NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center (providing the perspective of an importer/exporter and applicant for CITES permits) and from the USFWS Division of Management Authority (from the CITES regulatory perspective) will be on hand to answer questions. A representative from NMFS Office of Protected Resources will provide the NMFS Headquarters permit perspective.

The session will take place on Tuesday, November 29 from 5:30-7:00pm at the NOAA Booth (either Booth 131 or 132 in the same hall as the posters).

Everyone is welcome, especially if you have plans to import/export samples the in future.

Some examples of questions we can help answer:

What paperwork is required to legally export/import samples to the United States under CITES?
Who do I request permits from in my country?
Who needs to validate the permit before the samples cross any borders?
What will happen to my shipment if it doesn't comply with the CITES regulations?
Who do I need to contact if I am expecting an import of marine mammal specimens?

We hope to see you there!
Siri Hakala (NOAA)
Lisa Lierheimer (USFWS)
Amy Sloan (NOAA)