The development of the enforcement of CITES in Norway: Discretionary omissions and theriocides

Abstract

The world is losing species at an alarming rate; the population sizes of wild mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles have dropped 68% since 1970. Much of this loss is caused by trade. This article discusses the development in the enforcement of CITES (Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species) in Norway through a longitudinal, qualitative approach. It is based on data collection done in several stages and traces how crimes of wildlife trade are addressed by law enforcement agencies. It finds that there is lax enforcement of CITES crimes in Norway, which connect to what can be called anthropocentric, discretionary harms of omission in law enforcement. Taking a species justice approach and based on a discussion of possible changes and development in enforcement in Norway, this article argues that this crime is still insufficiently prioritized by enforcement agencies. Weak points identified at the early stages of this research, such as deficient recording of CITES crimes and discretionary lack of priority of investigation, were still existent. The most serious weakness is the policy of euthanizing confiscated animals, which is a considerable breach of species justice.