The Trade in Marine Ornamentals Worldwide

[cheeks69]

It is estimated that between 1.5 and 2 million people worldwide keep marine aquaria [6] , with 600,000 households in the United States alone [7]. Estimates place the value of the marine ornamental trade at US$200-330 million per year [8, 9] with 80% of the trade in stony corals and 50% of the trade in marine fish going to the United States [10]. Unlike freshwater aquaria species, where 90% of fish species are currently farmed, the great majority of marine aquaria are stocked from wild-caught species [11]. With nearly all tropical marine aquarium fish and invertebrates in trade taken directly from coral reefs and adjacent habitats, the aquarium industry has attracted some controversy [12-15], particularly regarding its sustainability [16]. The high visibility of marine ornamental products has made the trade a magnet for criticism [17]. Articles in the press have tended to focus on the negative impacts of the trade with headlines often making the presumption that the trade of marine ornamentals is incompatible with reef conservation.

http://www.ornamental-fish-int.org/d...11492&gid=4838

[BoomerD]

Then add the appropriate multiplier for the vast number of fish that don't live 6 months, either due to hobbyist mistakes, cyanide collection, or just trans-shipping losses, all of which are touched on in the article...our hobby takes vast numbers of fishes and inverts from the sea every year. Hawaii has already put some serious fishing restrictions in place, and more stringent ones are being considered. Some areas already have seen major reductions in the numbers of fish on the reefs...Maybe those $10.00 yellow tangs aren't so cheap after all...

[Gina]

Thanks for the article Robert. I have to admit that I have always been concerned about our wildlife and even feel that someday down the road if people want to see animals they will probably need to go to a zoo or museum. I can't say with all honestly that I ever really thought much about the ocean until I started keeping saltwater fish.
It was very interesting reading.

[Woodstock]

Thank you Robert... interesting read.

[cheeks69]

I thought this was very interesting also:

A recent study which analysed the causal link between cleaner fish presence/absence and reef fish diversity at Ras Mohammed, Egypt, demonstrated that Labroides dimidiatus have a significant effect on local reef fish diversity with a more rapid increase in diversity being recorded when cleaner fish are added to individual reef patches [46]. Indeed, the removal of Labroides dimidiatus had no effects on fish abundance within the first few weeks, but a significant decline in fish diversity was recorded after a 4-20 month time period. On the other hand, the immigration or addition of Labroides dimidiatus individuals to reef patches led to an immediate, i.e. within 2-4 weeks, significant increase in fish diversity. In addition to playing a key role in reef health - and thus the removal of Labroides dimidiatus in large quantities for the aquarium trade potentially having negative impacts on reef diversity - aquarists are advised to avoid this species as it tends to fare poorly in aquarium conditions unless kept with a large community of fishes, and is not likely to accept substitute foods [47].

I don't know if you guys have seen the DVD " The Blue Planet " but there it mentions that at certain times there are mass migrations of fish to the reefs with the main purpose of being rid of parasitic infections it even shows Passer Angels on a feeding frenzy of parasites on Sharks.

[KimPossible]

I was going to point out that exact excerpt too; we often don't understand the far-reaching consequences of our actions. This is an excellent article. Like Gina, since starting in this hobby I have been more aware of the 70% of this earth that is not land. Incredible! So big, yet so overlooked.
Thanks for the article!

[Woodstock]

Wow... another good reason to leave cleaner wrasses(Labroides dimidiatus ) in the wild!

[Witfull]

heres a thought,,,,we know more about the geography of the moon than the oceans. and with each deep dive, new ecosystems, let alone species, are discovered.

[Rougiem]

Good point Witty. 10,000 new species were discovered last year. As our knowledge of the Ocean grows there will be many more found. We all think the tropical rainforest having great diversity. In the years ahead the ocean's dieversity will blow it out of the water! No pun intended...well maybe

As with anything, people need to be aware of the facts. Too often the media does not take into account all viewpoints and information. The public then in turn, takes it all as fact.

I try to buy tank raised items whenever I can. Since the recent advances in the reef hobby there will be a trend to go to tank raised items which will be a benefit to us, but most importantly the Earth.

Reminds me of an article in the May issue of Discover Magazine: (a couple of quotes):

What invasions have shown is that there are plenty of unused resources,” says Ted Grosholz, a marine biologist at the University of California at Davis who for years has monitored the incursion of the European green crab into the bay. “Ecosystems can absorb a lot of new species. I mean, holy cow, look at San Francisco Bay! Who would have thought an ecosystem had that much unused niche space?”

Marine environments turn out to be particularly absorbent to—and forgiving of—alien species. Although exotic crabs, sea worms, sponges, clams, and diseases have been introduced around the world for hundreds of years on or in ships (and by many other means), marine biologists have documented not a single example of an invading marine species driving a native marine species extinct, whether by predation, competition, or disease.

Cheers! If anyone wants to read the article..let me know and I will send it you ya!

[KimPossible]

As with anything, people need to be aware of the facts. Too often the media does not take into account all viewpoints and information. The public then in turn, takes it all as fact.

LMAO! Isn't that the truth!!!!
Rougiem...kick it my way, I'd be interested in reading that article

[Cougra]

Indeed this is a good article. I'm glad that it highlighted the cleaner wrasse and Banggai cardinalfish in it's examples on how their collection impacts the environment.

I would love to see or even be able to set up a breeding program for the Banggai's. These fish are considered one of the easier fish to rear in captivity yet most of them are still wild caught. I realise that their small brood size makes it difficult to make profits on them but there must be an answer.

As for cleaner shrimp, I have always avocatted against people buying them because of the impact collection has on the wild reef ecosystem as well as their short life expectancy in captivity. Too many times I have heard that person A was able to keep a cleaner wrasse alive for months and it was eating anything in the tank, yet never seem to hear from people b-z who attempted to keep one and had it die within days or weeks because it starved to death, wouldn't accept prepared foods, or did accept prepared foods yet still starved to death with a full belly!

It seems that everyone in the hobby is well aware that Morish Idols are taboo because they are so very delicate, yet other marine fish (like the cleaner wrasse, mandarin goby, sea horses, most butterflyfish, etc.) are accepted and even their purchases are deffended when they really should be left in the ocean.

Opps sorry, I got carried away here.