AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRADE OF NAUTILUS

The investigation reveals significant illegal harvest and trade of Nautilus pompilius in Indonesia and unregulated, potentially unsustainable harvest in the Philippines. Trade has shifted toward online platforms and processed products like furniture inlays to evade enforcement. The USA is a major consumer market, importing tens of thousands of items annually, while Europe's trade appears lower and less monitored. A critical gap is the lack of species-specific customs codes globally, which masks the true volume of trade.

• In Indonesia, the harvest and sale of N. pompilius has been prohibited since 1999, yet substantial products remain available domestically and for export, often sold in tourist areas or via the internet to avoid detection.
• The nautilus fishery in the Philippines is largely unregulated, with no harvest or trade controls except for a few municipal jurisdictions. During the survey, over 18,500 whole nautilus shells were encountered in various forms across the country.
• Palawan waters are the primary harvest area in the Philippines, with some exporters claiming collections of 1,000 to 1,500 pieces up to six times a year from sites around Panglao and Balabac Islands.
• In Indonesia, nautilus shells are heavily used as inlays for furniture and ornaments, particularly in Lombok. A single set of furniture (one table and three chairs) can require between 40 and 100 shells.
• The USA is a major consumer market; between 2010 and November 2013, the US imported 115,726 nautilus commodities. The Philippines was the largest supplier, accounting for nearly 75% of the quantity and 99% of the weight.
• A preliminary estimate suggests that between 20,000 and 100,000 individual nautilus were collected for commodities imported to the USA alone between 2010 and 2013, averaging 6,000 to 33,000 annually.
• Trade in Europe occurs at a low level, primarily through websites in France, Germany, and the UK. Most European countries do not protect nautilus, and monitoring is not a priority for authorities.
• In China, N. pompilius is a protected Class I species, but enforcement is challenging. Small numbers of shells and meat are sold in southern China, specifically in Guangzhou seafood markets and home décor shops.
• A major obstacle to monitoring international trade is the absence of species- or genus-specific customs codes. Nautilus products are typically grouped under general codes for 'coral and similar materials' or 'shells of molluscs'.
• Nautilus are highly vulnerable to exploitation due to their slow growth, late maturity (reproducing at 15.5 years), and low fecundity (10-20 eggs per year).

APA

WWF International (2016). AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRADE OF NAUTILUS. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/410/21qws58zy5_An_Investigation_into_the_Trade_of_Nautilus.pdf

Chicago

WWF International. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRADE OF NAUTILUS. 2016. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/410/21qws58zy5_An_Investigation_into_the_Trade_of_Nautilus.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=WWF International |title=AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRADE OF NAUTILUS |date=April 2016 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/410/21qws58zy5_An_Investigation_into_the_Trade_of_Nautilus.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{wwfinternational2016investigation, author = {{WWF International}}, title = {{AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE TRADE OF NAUTILUS}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2016}, month = apr, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/410/21qws58zy5_An_Investigation_into_the_Trade_of_Nautilus.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }