AZA Comment Letters
Between September and December of 2025, AZA submitted regulatory comments on the following: CITES Conference of the Parties provisional agenda, regulations for eleven species treated as listed due to similarity of appearance, Florida FWC marine special activity licenses, prohibition of retention of mobulid rays in fisheries for Atlantic Highly Migratory Species, agency information collection activities relating to federal fish and wildlife law enforcement applications and reports, and four proposed rule changes to the Endangered Species Act (ESA) about listing determinations, critical habitat designation exclusion, interagency cooperation, and removal of the blanket 4d rule option. Templates were created and used for the ESA letters and the mobulid retention prohibition. 

AZA Advocacy Day
Save the date for AZA Advocacy Day 2026! Advocacy Day will take place from April 28-29 in Washington, D.C. The AZA Government Affairs Committee will hold a meeting on Monday, April 27th, which is open to non-committee members. Advocacy Day formally kicks off on Tuesday, April 28th with an in-person training day; attending the full training is mandatory for going to Capitol Hill the following day. April 29th is our Capitol Hill Day with congressional meetings and a reception. Registration will open in January. We can’t wait to see you in D.C.!

CITES COP20 Update
AZA participated in the 20th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from November 23-December 5. More than 350 decisions were approved and AZA’s engagement was both visible and influential. AZA 1) identified a critical oversight regarding a proposed definition of coral substrate that would have substantially complicated live coral shipments; 2) underscored the need for transparent, affordable access to the IATA Live Animal Regulations required for CITES compliance; and, 3) successfully defended purpose of transaction code "z" (zoo) against proposals to narrow its applications. Additionally, AZA worked with the U.S. delegation to revise their proposal on live wildlife confiscations. AZA worked with other organizations on interventions and presenting at side events and will continue to join intersessional working groups. Several AZA SAFE priority species also won stronger protections, as did many others.

• A proposal removing giraffe populations in eight southern African countries from Appendix II was rejected.
• A proposal allowing trade in Namibian elephant ivory was rejected.
• Proposals allowing limited commercial trade in horns of Namibian black and white rhino were rejected.
• Several species were approved for listing in Appendix II, including two genera of African hornbill (Ceratogymna spp. and Bycanistes spp.) and Tope, Smoothound, and Gulper sharks
• Several species were elevated from Appendix II to Appendix I (i.e., more protection), including two species of African vulture (Gyps africanus, white-backed vulture and Gyps rueppelli, Ruppell's Vulture), Manta and devil rays, Oceanic whitetip shark, and Whale sharks.
• Additional protections were added to the Appendix-II listings of both giant guitarfish (Glaucostegus spp.) and wedgefish (Rhinidae spp.) by a zero annual export quota for wild specimens traded commercially.
• Five South America songbirds were approved for listing in the Appendices, with Sporophila maximiliani added to Appendix I and four other Sporophila species added to Appendix II.

H.R. 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act
Take action today by asking your Representative to cosponsor H.R. 3538, the Wildlife Confiscations Network Act, using the AZA Action Alert.

H.R. 347/S.843, the Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act of 2025
The Sea Turtle Rescue Assistance and Rehabilitation Act would establish a grant program to support the rescue, recovery, and research of marine turtles. Urge your Senators and Representative tocosponsor this legislation.

Congressional Zoo & Aquarium Caucus
The Congressional Zoo & Aquarium Caucus currently consists of 86 bipartisan members. Invite your Representative to join the Caucus today using the AZA Action Alert.

Regulatory Questions
There may still be some uncertainty with government affairs for institutions. AZA is closely monitoring the government. If you have any questions/comments/concerns with things in the regulatory or governmental space, please reach out to me. I am in contact and conversation with agency partners, so if you are struggling with an inspection, license, or permit, please let me know. If an inspector or permit office is giving you different information than the national office or me, please tell me immediately. Thank you for being so dedicated!

(Links to learn more about these issues and Aislinn's email address can all be found in the current newsletter.)