Why a trophy hunting ban would hurt conservation and development
Think tank: Institute of Economic Affairs
Author(s): Francis Vorhies
July 9, 2024
This report from UK think tank the Institute of Economic Affairs discusses why a trophy ban would hurt conservation and development.
The rationale for import prohibitions or restrictions is normally protectionism, e.g., protecting domestic industry from foreign competitors. The rationale for the prohibition on hunting trophy imports could better be described as ‘illiberalism.’
In its current form, the Hunting Trophies (Import Prohibition) Bill puts in place illiberal measures that are at odds with the position of the UK as a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and a Party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Under CITES, to which the UK is an active Party, an internationally agreed system is in place for regulating the trade in endangered species, including hunting trophies. This system recognises the sovereignty of countries in making decisions about export and import permits. The import prohibition of this bill ignores this system.
The hunting trophy import prohibition bill undermines the UK’s position in CITES and in multilateral agreements regarding the sustainable and legal trade in wild species.
Well-managed, sustainable and legal trophy hunting is recognised by International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Members and CITES Parties, including the UK government, as a conservation measure. A unilateral general prohibition of trophy imports is an anti-conservation measure.
