Ministry of Agriculture

January 12, 2006

I. Current animal welfare status in farming of livestock and poultry in China

In recent years, China has made tremendous efforts in protecting animals and maintaining ecological balance. As a result, a considerable improvement has been achieved in the well-beings, nutrient intake and growth environment of livestock and poultry. Particularly, a fast development has been witnessed in such fields as livestock and poultry breeding, raising, disease control, and feed production. Grazing is the main form of cattle, sheep and goats production in the pastoral areas of west China. Among the 14 billion fowls or more throughout China, more than 4 billion are free ranged in mountainous areas, courtyards and on water bodies, enjoying good living conditions. In order to improve animal welfare in the process of production, China has promulgated the Livestock Production Law of the People's Republic of China, which includes explicit provisions related to animal welfare.

II. Conservation of aquatic wild animals

In recent years, China has adopted a series of important measures to protect aquatic wildlife including sharks.

1. Strengthen legal system. In 1986, the National People's Congress promulgated the Fishery Law of the People's Republic of China, and in 1988 the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Wildlife. In 1993, the State Council promulgated the Regulations of the People's Republic of China for the Implementation of the Protection of Aquatic Wildlife.

2. Draw up conservation lists of key wildlife. In 1989, the State Council promulgated the National Conservation List of Key Wildlife, which covers more than 80 species (races) of aquatic wild animals, including the Chinese river dolphin (Lipotes vexillifer), the Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis) and sea turtles. And nearly 200 species (races) of aquatic wild animals, covering the Yangtze reeves shad (Hilsa reevesii) and river turtles, are included in the Local Conservation List of Key Wildlife.

3. Establish nature reserves. Currently, about 200 nature reserves for protection of aquatic wild plants and animals have been set up nationwide, which have effectively protected endangered aquatic plants and animals.

4. Release reproduced fries to increase resources, and make efforts to treat and cure aquatic wild animals. In recent years, a total of 6 million of the Chinese sturgeons have been released into the Yangtze River and the Zhujiang River, and more than 50,000 sea turtles into the South China Sea. From 1998 up to now, a total of over 10,000 key wild animals under national protection including large whales, dolphins and sea turtles have been treated, cured and released into seas or rivers.

III. Conservation of Sharks

1. Conserve shark resources. The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) exercises supervision and governance over shark catch and maintenance in light of the domestic legislations and the international conventions in order to conserve fish resources including sharks. There are measures in place to conserve the resources while tapping them, for instance, issue of fishing permits, conservation of reproduction habitats, control of fishing efforts.

2. Exercise strict control over international shark trade in compliance with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES). The import and export of sharks or their products as well as their re-exports must get the approval from MOA starting from January 1, 1998. Whale shark, basking shark and great white shark that are listed in the CITES annex are treated as key animals for protection in the management of wildlife.

3. Make greater efforts to protect endangered shark species. At this stage, MOA is organizing experts to amend the National Conservation List of Key Aquatic Wildlife, and has considered incorporating some endangered shark species into the List.

(China Development Gateway January 12, 2006)