Joe S
Community Member
Support Marine Ornamental Aquaculture
by Joe Szczebak
Introduction
The biodiversity of coral reefs is unparalleled by other marine ecosystems. In fact, coral reefs are coined “the rainforests of the sea.” These unique ecosystems are home to over 4,000 species of fishes, 800 species of corals, and countless other invertebrates (sponges, mollusks, cnidarians, crustaceans, etc.). The biological richness and productivity of these habitats depends on complex interactions between its inhabitants. However, this dependency also imparts a fragility on reef systems; remove too many working parts and the whole system can collapse.
It is acknowledged that coral reefs are facing a suite of phenomena that threaten their continued existence, including climate change, eutrophication, and ocean acidification. However, a less conspicuous culprit that aggravates the already stressed ecosystem is the collection of wild reef organisms for the marine ornamental aquarium trade.
Marine Ornamental Aquariums
Over 1.5 million households maintain aquaria worldwide (more than 600,000 in the U.S. alone). The resulting marine ornamental trade is valued at $200-300 million a year. Currently, the marine ornamental fishery includes over 1,400 species of reef fishes, ~150 species of stony corals, and over 500 species of invertebrates. Sadly, only 1-10 percent of these organisms are produced in captivity! Thus, almost all marine fishes and invertebrates available to hobbyists are supplied via wild capture from coral reefs.
Wild Capture
The growing popularity of coral reef aquariums and the resulting demand for its colorful inhabitants places a large toll on natural populations for several main reasons: (1) damaging collection techniques, (2) overharvesting of desired species, and (3) high rates of collection mortality.
Damaging Collection Techniques
Coral reef organisms have evolved specialized morphologies and behaviors to deal with bustling coral reef life. For example, many fishes are laterally compressed with highly agile pectoral fins for maneuvering among reef structure. Naturally, these adaptations make coral reef inhabitants a challenge to track down and collect. However, many of the collectors have their own adaptations to collect these elusive creatures.
Cyanide fishing entails crushing cyanide pellets and mixing the powder with sea water in some type of squirt container. In theory, cyanide solution will stun targets for long enough to catch and bag them. However, cyanide kills up to 75 percent of animals before collection, due to poison overdose. Further, many more animals die before they reach the market due to injury and disease, which are aggravated by their poison-induced weak state.
Furthermore, chemical collection techniques can cause collateral damage. These chemicals are “non-selective” and the cloud of poison can injure and/or kill non-target organisms. For example, many of the targeted fishes will seek shelter among the coral branches. The fishermen squirt cyanide among those branches, exposing the coral to the toxin. Research shows that coral exposed to cyanide experience tissue detachment and even bleaching. Furthermore, many sessile invertebrates incur mechanical damage (tissue abrasion and breakage) as fishermen collect their targets.
It is important to note that cyanide fishing is illegal in some countries. On Indonesian coral reefs, violators can be charged with up to 10 years in prison and $12,000 in fines. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers in these countries are easily bribed.
Overharvest of Target Species
Whether or not popular marine ornamentals are being removed from coral reefs at a dangerous and unsustainable rate is a hot topic of discussion amongst scientists, fishermen, and policy makers. Currently, very little is known about the natural populations, as well as the indirect and long-term effects current collection practices have on coral reefs. For example, the life history of target species is a large factor (and unknown for many popular ornamentals) that will affect a species’ vulnerability to collection. Organisms with slow growth rates, delayed reproduction, and restricted habitats may not recover from intensive collection. A study in 2003 in the Philippines reported that clownfish and host anemones comprised over 60 percent of the fauna collected in that area. Further, this study revealed that both fish and anemone population densities were significantly lower in areas exploited for the marine aquarium trade (Shuman et al. 2005).
Furthermore, all organisms on the reef perform a specific function. This could be as simple as providing nutrients (via feces) for a sessile neighbor, or as complicated as being a mandatory shelter for an obligate resident (e.g., clownfish). Thus, removing a large portion of a target species from a local population can have disastrous effects on the remaining ecosystem.
High Rates of Mortality
Under the current practices, up to a staggering 80 percent of all collected coral reef organisms die before reaching the hobbyist’s aquarium. This is in addition to the large number of organisms that die before collection from exposure to harmful collection techniques such as toxic chemicals. Organisms die during the collection process, during shipping, and during any handling that occurs between the reef and the aquarium. Some deaths are caused directly by damage during collection, or by the stress and diseases that are enhanced by their weakened state. Improper and rough handling also contributes to the high post-collection mortality.
Solutions and Alternatives
Coral reef Conservation
Marine ornamental fisheries need to be managed in a way that meets the demands of the market, while protecting the unique ecosystems our captive aquaria strive to emulate. Improvements can be (and are being) made on a variety of political, conservational, and scientific fronts, including efforts to:
* Enact better government support and enforcement of regulation/policy
* Improve collection, export, and import inventories
* Limit fishery access via quotas, size limits, and temporary closures
* Employ artificial reefs
* Establish marine protected areas
While many of the above tactics may seem out of the hands of the everyday hobbyist, there is a more feasible option to help support the conservation of coral reefs and the sustainability of the marine ornamental fishery: support marine ornamental aquaculture!
Marine Ornamental Aquaculture (MOA)
The captive culture of popular marine ornamentals increases the sustainability of the marine ornamental fishery for two main reasons: First, MOA provides an alternative source of target species and thus removes collection pressures on wild populations. Second, MOA provides a controlled environment in which scientists can research the biology and life histories of popular marine specimens. This information can them be used to improve our understanding of the fishing regulations needed for the wild stocks.
Additional Benefits
* Cultured organisms are more “hardy” and suitable for captivity
* Generally, cultured organisms are cheaper than their wild counterparts
Because of these benefits, it is hoped that in the future much of the market demand for marine ornamentals will be met with cultured specimens. Why then are so few marine species currently cultured? Two of the largest bottlenecks preventing the advent of a cultured market is a lack of (1) knowledge regarding the life history and reproductive cycles of many popular species, and (2) the ability to replicate natural environments in captive systems.
However, new species of fishes and invertebrates are constantly being successfully reared, and scientists and hobbyists alike are making rapid progress in the field of MOA. Online hobbyist/breeder forums (e.g., Reef2Reef and MOFIB) are essential tools that can help speed developments in MOA. These online communities serve as powerful and up-to-date platforms that expedite dissemination of successful techniques and news of newly cultured species in the hobby.
Conclusions
Currently, the marine ornamental aquarium trade threatens coral reef ecosystems through highly selective removal of target species, destructive collection practices, and a lack of knowledge about species and habitat vulnerability to collection practices. This article is a call to arms to create more sustainable wild harvesting practices, as well as to remove some of the collection pressures currently facing natural coral reefs by supplying more practical and sustainable methods of meeting the public demand for marine ornamentals. Ultimately, aquariums serve as a window into a rare world few people get to see first hand. Supporting marine ornamental aquaculture will ensure that many more people will get the opportunity to look through that window and enjoy the beauty of coral reef ecosystems for years to come.
Resources
Shuman et al (2005)
Wabnitz et al (2003)
Wood (2001)
by Joe Szczebak
Introduction
The biodiversity of coral reefs is unparalleled by other marine ecosystems. In fact, coral reefs are coined “the rainforests of the sea.” These unique ecosystems are home to over 4,000 species of fishes, 800 species of corals, and countless other invertebrates (sponges, mollusks, cnidarians, crustaceans, etc.). The biological richness and productivity of these habitats depends on complex interactions between its inhabitants. However, this dependency also imparts a fragility on reef systems; remove too many working parts and the whole system can collapse.
It is acknowledged that coral reefs are facing a suite of phenomena that threaten their continued existence, including climate change, eutrophication, and ocean acidification. However, a less conspicuous culprit that aggravates the already stressed ecosystem is the collection of wild reef organisms for the marine ornamental aquarium trade.
Marine Ornamental Aquariums
Over 1.5 million households maintain aquaria worldwide (more than 600,000 in the U.S. alone). The resulting marine ornamental trade is valued at $200-300 million a year. Currently, the marine ornamental fishery includes over 1,400 species of reef fishes, ~150 species of stony corals, and over 500 species of invertebrates. Sadly, only 1-10 percent of these organisms are produced in captivity! Thus, almost all marine fishes and invertebrates available to hobbyists are supplied via wild capture from coral reefs.
Wild Capture
The growing popularity of coral reef aquariums and the resulting demand for its colorful inhabitants places a large toll on natural populations for several main reasons: (1) damaging collection techniques, (2) overharvesting of desired species, and (3) high rates of collection mortality.
Damaging Collection Techniques
Coral reef organisms have evolved specialized morphologies and behaviors to deal with bustling coral reef life. For example, many fishes are laterally compressed with highly agile pectoral fins for maneuvering among reef structure. Naturally, these adaptations make coral reef inhabitants a challenge to track down and collect. However, many of the collectors have their own adaptations to collect these elusive creatures.
Cyanide fishing entails crushing cyanide pellets and mixing the powder with sea water in some type of squirt container. In theory, cyanide solution will stun targets for long enough to catch and bag them. However, cyanide kills up to 75 percent of animals before collection, due to poison overdose. Further, many more animals die before they reach the market due to injury and disease, which are aggravated by their poison-induced weak state.
Furthermore, chemical collection techniques can cause collateral damage. These chemicals are “non-selective” and the cloud of poison can injure and/or kill non-target organisms. For example, many of the targeted fishes will seek shelter among the coral branches. The fishermen squirt cyanide among those branches, exposing the coral to the toxin. Research shows that coral exposed to cyanide experience tissue detachment and even bleaching. Furthermore, many sessile invertebrates incur mechanical damage (tissue abrasion and breakage) as fishermen collect their targets.
It is important to note that cyanide fishing is illegal in some countries. On Indonesian coral reefs, violators can be charged with up to 10 years in prison and $12,000 in fines. Unfortunately, law enforcement officers in these countries are easily bribed.
Overharvest of Target Species
Whether or not popular marine ornamentals are being removed from coral reefs at a dangerous and unsustainable rate is a hot topic of discussion amongst scientists, fishermen, and policy makers. Currently, very little is known about the natural populations, as well as the indirect and long-term effects current collection practices have on coral reefs. For example, the life history of target species is a large factor (and unknown for many popular ornamentals) that will affect a species’ vulnerability to collection. Organisms with slow growth rates, delayed reproduction, and restricted habitats may not recover from intensive collection. A study in 2003 in the Philippines reported that clownfish and host anemones comprised over 60 percent of the fauna collected in that area. Further, this study revealed that both fish and anemone population densities were significantly lower in areas exploited for the marine aquarium trade (Shuman et al. 2005).
Furthermore, all organisms on the reef perform a specific function. This could be as simple as providing nutrients (via feces) for a sessile neighbor, or as complicated as being a mandatory shelter for an obligate resident (e.g., clownfish). Thus, removing a large portion of a target species from a local population can have disastrous effects on the remaining ecosystem.
High Rates of Mortality
Under the current practices, up to a staggering 80 percent of all collected coral reef organisms die before reaching the hobbyist’s aquarium. This is in addition to the large number of organisms that die before collection from exposure to harmful collection techniques such as toxic chemicals. Organisms die during the collection process, during shipping, and during any handling that occurs between the reef and the aquarium. Some deaths are caused directly by damage during collection, or by the stress and diseases that are enhanced by their weakened state. Improper and rough handling also contributes to the high post-collection mortality.
Solutions and Alternatives
Coral reef Conservation
Marine ornamental fisheries need to be managed in a way that meets the demands of the market, while protecting the unique ecosystems our captive aquaria strive to emulate. Improvements can be (and are being) made on a variety of political, conservational, and scientific fronts, including efforts to:
* Enact better government support and enforcement of regulation/policy
* Improve collection, export, and import inventories
* Limit fishery access via quotas, size limits, and temporary closures
* Employ artificial reefs
* Establish marine protected areas
While many of the above tactics may seem out of the hands of the everyday hobbyist, there is a more feasible option to help support the conservation of coral reefs and the sustainability of the marine ornamental fishery: support marine ornamental aquaculture!
Marine Ornamental Aquaculture (MOA)
The captive culture of popular marine ornamentals increases the sustainability of the marine ornamental fishery for two main reasons: First, MOA provides an alternative source of target species and thus removes collection pressures on wild populations. Second, MOA provides a controlled environment in which scientists can research the biology and life histories of popular marine specimens. This information can them be used to improve our understanding of the fishing regulations needed for the wild stocks.
Additional Benefits
* Cultured organisms are more “hardy” and suitable for captivity
* Generally, cultured organisms are cheaper than their wild counterparts
Because of these benefits, it is hoped that in the future much of the market demand for marine ornamentals will be met with cultured specimens. Why then are so few marine species currently cultured? Two of the largest bottlenecks preventing the advent of a cultured market is a lack of (1) knowledge regarding the life history and reproductive cycles of many popular species, and (2) the ability to replicate natural environments in captive systems.
However, new species of fishes and invertebrates are constantly being successfully reared, and scientists and hobbyists alike are making rapid progress in the field of MOA. Online hobbyist/breeder forums (e.g., Reef2Reef and MOFIB) are essential tools that can help speed developments in MOA. These online communities serve as powerful and up-to-date platforms that expedite dissemination of successful techniques and news of newly cultured species in the hobby.
Conclusions
Currently, the marine ornamental aquarium trade threatens coral reef ecosystems through highly selective removal of target species, destructive collection practices, and a lack of knowledge about species and habitat vulnerability to collection practices. This article is a call to arms to create more sustainable wild harvesting practices, as well as to remove some of the collection pressures currently facing natural coral reefs by supplying more practical and sustainable methods of meeting the public demand for marine ornamentals. Ultimately, aquariums serve as a window into a rare world few people get to see first hand. Supporting marine ornamental aquaculture will ensure that many more people will get the opportunity to look through that window and enjoy the beauty of coral reef ecosystems for years to come.
Resources
Shuman et al (2005)
Wabnitz et al (2003)
Wood (2001)
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