Lontra canadensis (North American Otter)

Meeting the high volume criterion, EU imports principally comprised wild-sourced skins traded for commercial purposes (7459 skins) originating in Canada and the United States. Imports of wild-sourced skins decreased by 43% between 2010 and 2011. The SRG formed a positive opinion for wild specimens from Canada on 16/02/2010 and for the United States on 07/12/2012.

2010 Summary for Lontra canadensis (North American Otter)

Criteria met:  High volume

Principal trade term to the EU:  skins

Principal source:  wild

Top EU importer:  Greece

Top Trading Partner:  Canada

CITES Appendix:  II

IUCN Status:  Least Concern

EU-reported imports of wild-sourced Lontra canadensis skins, all purposes, 2001-2010.

The majority of EU imports in 2010 were wild-sourced skins (13,272 skins), of which all but one were traded for commercial purposes. Imports of wild-sourced skins almost doubled between 2009 and 2010, reaching a similar level to 2008 imports.

Imports of wild-sourced skins principally originated in Canada (64%), with the remainder originating in the United States. The SRG formed a positive opinion for specimens from all countries on 2/9/1997 and confirmed the positive opinion for Canada on 16/02/2010.