Let me clarify information in the Woods report. The report is titled "Exploitation Of Coral Reef Fishes For The Aquarium Trade". It was written in 1985 (not 1970s as I previously stated) by Dr. Elizabeth Woods of the Marine Conservation Society in the UK.It is divided into two parts.
Part I is titled Importation Into the United Kindom. The contents of Part I are an Introdution, Trade Overview (that talks about what countries trade marines worldwide), Organization of Domestic Trade (UK), Survival of Fish in Captivity, Export and Import Controls (existing and recommended). Licensing of Trade in the UK, Fish Supply and Conservation Issues.
Part II is titled "Export Trade in Sri Lanka"
The contents of Part II are an Introduction, Trade Review, Species in Trade, Collection and Exports (numbers traded), Conservation Status of Fish Populations, Other Conservation Issues, Management and Licensing.
In part I, it is mentioned that sodium cyanide is widely used for collection of marines in the Philippines and Indonesia. These practices were suspected of causing environmental degredation and the depletion of certain species in the trade. Papers by Albaladejo and Corpus of the BFAR Coral Reef Research Group in the Philippines are cited.
On page 28, it states:
"The Philippines is probably the major supplier of tropical marine fish for the world market. Randall (1984) reported that in 1975 more than 80% of the imports to the USA were from the Philippines. At this time the Philippines was also the major single supplier to the UK market, providing 26% fo imports (by value). In 1980 and 1981 imports to the UK dropped substantially, but are now beginning to rise again. This fall was probably due to the bad reputation earned by the Philippines as a result of the widespread ue of poisons in the capture of fish."
On page 44, under Conclusions it refers to mortality in the trade in the UK (importing country).
A limited study in the UK indicated that
"Half of the fish had died within 6 months of being purchased, and nearly 70% were dead at the end of the year. Causes of death included stress, stavation, disease, predation, bullying, effects of copper-based medication, and technical problems leading to poor water-quality."
On page 45, it states:
"A survey of survival of fish in home aquaria showed that some of these died from stress and disease, others of technical problems. Hal of the fish had died wthin 6 months, and nearly 70% within a year, but some specimens went on to live for 4 years or more (Figure 5). It is a matter of concern that some species purchased regularly by aquarists have extremely poor chances of survival (see section 4.3.11). This problem is discussed further in Section 5 (Export/Import Controls)."
Under Part II, Collecting Techniques in Sri Lanka are discussed on pages 89-91.
"Sedentary and mobile invertebrate are taken by hand... shrimps are taken in small nets(approx 10 cm across mouth) with a mesh size of about 3 mm. There are reports that fish are occasionally captured by collectors breaking off pieces of coral (especially Acropora) in which the fish are hiding, and then shaking the fish into a plastic bag. Some species, for example the tang, Odonus niger, (this is a triggerfish) are caught with hook and line."
On pages 90 and 91 Hand nets and Moxy nets are also discussed.
There are no quantitative date presented from surveys on the reef to indicate whether these techniques are sustainable or not.
On page 98 is the Heading
Impact of Collecting.
"Many collectors and exporters in Sri Lanka believe that coral reef fish collected for the aquarium trade are less abundant now than in previous years. Unfortunately, no quantitative data are available and thus from a scientific viewpoint it is impossible either to substantiate or refute these claims. However, those involved in the trade have considerable experience, and their observations are invaluable."
I interpret the statement above to indicate that the collectors in Sri Lanka had noted a decline in abundance of the species they were collecting. At the time there were only 25 collectors in Sri Lanka (information also given in the report). There is nothing in the report by Woods that proves that the collection methods described were sustainable or not. However, I would agree that collection with nets is a preferable alternative to the use of chemicals like sodium cyanide (which was not being used in Sri Lanka).
Several months ago, I posted information on Reefs.org that collection with barrier nets in Hawaii was found to result in documented declines in abundance. The 10 most abundant fish species had declined by 40%, the top 10 aquarium fish species had declined by 59%. Hawaii had increased the number of licensed collectors from 100 to about 285. Hence, collecting was unsustainable at the higher level of harvest, despite the use of barrier nets.
In the Philippines we now believe that there are about 8,000 collectors. This is clearly unsustainable, even if they were all trained to use barrier nets. My estimate (new paper for OFI Journal in press) is that there have been about 1900 collectors trained by Haribon and IMA to use barrier nets from 1987 to 2000). The main problem for the MAC in the Philippines seeking to Certify collection sites and collectors through Collection Area Management Plans (CAMP) is finding sites where reef fish populations are abundant and the reefs healthy enough to be deemed "sustainable".
I hope this information is informative,
Peter Rubec, Ph.D.
International Marinelife Alliance
Part I is titled Importation Into the United Kindom. The contents of Part I are an Introdution, Trade Overview (that talks about what countries trade marines worldwide), Organization of Domestic Trade (UK), Survival of Fish in Captivity, Export and Import Controls (existing and recommended). Licensing of Trade in the UK, Fish Supply and Conservation Issues.
Part II is titled "Export Trade in Sri Lanka"
The contents of Part II are an Introduction, Trade Review, Species in Trade, Collection and Exports (numbers traded), Conservation Status of Fish Populations, Other Conservation Issues, Management and Licensing.
In part I, it is mentioned that sodium cyanide is widely used for collection of marines in the Philippines and Indonesia. These practices were suspected of causing environmental degredation and the depletion of certain species in the trade. Papers by Albaladejo and Corpus of the BFAR Coral Reef Research Group in the Philippines are cited.
On page 28, it states:
"The Philippines is probably the major supplier of tropical marine fish for the world market. Randall (1984) reported that in 1975 more than 80% of the imports to the USA were from the Philippines. At this time the Philippines was also the major single supplier to the UK market, providing 26% fo imports (by value). In 1980 and 1981 imports to the UK dropped substantially, but are now beginning to rise again. This fall was probably due to the bad reputation earned by the Philippines as a result of the widespread ue of poisons in the capture of fish."
On page 44, under Conclusions it refers to mortality in the trade in the UK (importing country).
A limited study in the UK indicated that
"Half of the fish had died within 6 months of being purchased, and nearly 70% were dead at the end of the year. Causes of death included stress, stavation, disease, predation, bullying, effects of copper-based medication, and technical problems leading to poor water-quality."
On page 45, it states:
"A survey of survival of fish in home aquaria showed that some of these died from stress and disease, others of technical problems. Hal of the fish had died wthin 6 months, and nearly 70% within a year, but some specimens went on to live for 4 years or more (Figure 5). It is a matter of concern that some species purchased regularly by aquarists have extremely poor chances of survival (see section 4.3.11). This problem is discussed further in Section 5 (Export/Import Controls)."
Under Part II, Collecting Techniques in Sri Lanka are discussed on pages 89-91.
"Sedentary and mobile invertebrate are taken by hand... shrimps are taken in small nets(approx 10 cm across mouth) with a mesh size of about 3 mm. There are reports that fish are occasionally captured by collectors breaking off pieces of coral (especially Acropora) in which the fish are hiding, and then shaking the fish into a plastic bag. Some species, for example the tang, Odonus niger, (this is a triggerfish) are caught with hook and line."
On pages 90 and 91 Hand nets and Moxy nets are also discussed.
There are no quantitative date presented from surveys on the reef to indicate whether these techniques are sustainable or not.
On page 98 is the Heading
Impact of Collecting.
"Many collectors and exporters in Sri Lanka believe that coral reef fish collected for the aquarium trade are less abundant now than in previous years. Unfortunately, no quantitative data are available and thus from a scientific viewpoint it is impossible either to substantiate or refute these claims. However, those involved in the trade have considerable experience, and their observations are invaluable."
I interpret the statement above to indicate that the collectors in Sri Lanka had noted a decline in abundance of the species they were collecting. At the time there were only 25 collectors in Sri Lanka (information also given in the report). There is nothing in the report by Woods that proves that the collection methods described were sustainable or not. However, I would agree that collection with nets is a preferable alternative to the use of chemicals like sodium cyanide (which was not being used in Sri Lanka).
Several months ago, I posted information on Reefs.org that collection with barrier nets in Hawaii was found to result in documented declines in abundance. The 10 most abundant fish species had declined by 40%, the top 10 aquarium fish species had declined by 59%. Hawaii had increased the number of licensed collectors from 100 to about 285. Hence, collecting was unsustainable at the higher level of harvest, despite the use of barrier nets.
In the Philippines we now believe that there are about 8,000 collectors. This is clearly unsustainable, even if they were all trained to use barrier nets. My estimate (new paper for OFI Journal in press) is that there have been about 1900 collectors trained by Haribon and IMA to use barrier nets from 1987 to 2000). The main problem for the MAC in the Philippines seeking to Certify collection sites and collectors through Collection Area Management Plans (CAMP) is finding sites where reef fish populations are abundant and the reefs healthy enough to be deemed "sustainable".
I hope this information is informative,
Peter Rubec, Ph.D.
International Marinelife Alliance
