Posted on 24 May 2023

This report presents a baseline, which describes the context of current marine and terrestrial wildlife trafficking and related transboundary crime issues in the Sulu-Celebes Seas region, bordering three countries: Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

This baseline is derived from an analysis of all wildlife seizures from the region combined with an analysis of online trade in the same region focused on marine turtles, sharks and rays, and pangolins.

A summary of the maritime activity, legal and policy frameworks around wildlife trade in this region is also presented.

Based on these analyses, key issues are identified and recommendations suggested for future work.

There were 452 recorded wildlife confiscations in the Sulu-Celebes region between June 2003 and September 2021.

In an online trade survey, 601 online posts offering marine turtles, sharks and rays, and pangolins for sale were recorded from six platforms across the three countries between September to December 2021.

Marine turtles were the most seized taxa, with turtle eggs accounting for 95% of counted marine turtle items seized.

Giant clams were confiscated in the largest volumes by weight, and seahorses were the family with the highest number of individuals seized.