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Florida may limit catches of exotic fish for aquariums
By David Fleshler
Staff Writer
Posted November 23 2004
About three miles off the coast of Islamorada, Ken Nedimyer glides along the ocean floor, trailing bubbles from his scuba gear and carrying two nets.
Two yellow jawfish emerge from their sandy holes. He squirts them with an anesthetic called quinaldine and scoops them up. Within a few days the fish would be airborne, packed in oxygen-rich water, on their way to aquarium-supply stores in Columbus and Cleveland.
Nedimyer is among a group of highly skilled Florida divers who earn a living providing live fish to the aquarium trade. He knows where to find angelfish, blue tangs and dozens of other species sought by collectors. Equally important, he knows how to get them alive to Phoenix or New York or Chicago.
But with fish stocks around the world threatened by overfishing, Florida wildlife officials have decided to impose limits on the business of catching live fish for the pet trade. At the urging of Nedimyer and other professionals, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has proposed rules that would reduce the number of permits and offer only limited ones to nonprofessionals.
"This fishery is largely pursued in sensitive areas, particularly coral reef areas," said Lee Schlesinger, spokesman for the commission, a board appointed by the governor that sets the rules for hunting, fishing and wildlife protection. "A lot of people go out and dive and just look at these animals, and we want to make sure there's plenty there for folks to enjoy over the years."
Florida and Hawaii are the only states with substantial aquarium-trade fisheries. In Florida, an estimated 75 to 100 people make a living catching live fish for the aquarium trade, along with about the same number of part-timers. Most work out of South Florida, along the coral reefs that stretch from the Keys through Palm Beach County.
Tom Scaturro, owner of Tom's Caribbean Tropicals of Tavernier in the Keys, dives one day a week. He faxes a list of what he's caught to about 200 pet shops and aquariums, and he posts price lists on his Web page. This week's offerings include medium-sized sea cucumbers for $4 each, large blue tangs for $40, a large strawberry grouper for $12, a porcupine puffer for $24 and dozens of other fish, plants and invertebrates.
On Sunday he assembles his orders. He ships small orders via Federal Express and large orders on commercial airlines. He does about $1,000 a week in business.
The industry catches millions of fish and invertebrates in Florida every year. In 2002, the trade included 29,815 angelfish, 19,273 damselfish, 8,490 surgeonfish and 18,095 wrasses, among many other species, according the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
While no one knows whether the aquarium trade has caused any species to decline, divers and government officials say there appear to be fewer of these fish in Florida waters.
"My gut feeling is that some of these species numbers are down," said Billy Causey, superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, who himself used to catch fish for the aquarium trade.
Causey and other experts say the drop in numbers could have many causes besides fishing for the aquarium trade, such as pollution, overfishing generally and global warming.
"The blame lies with what we've done to the ocean," Causey said.
Formal stock assessments have not been done for any species captured for aquariums, which means that no one knows whether the current level of fishing is sustainable. This lack of information is precisely why many fishermen are pressing for restrictions.
"There's no science on this fishery," said Nedimyer, chairman of the Florida Marine Life Association, which represents people who catch the fish. "Nobody really has a clue how many fish are out there. There's a handful of us trying to be managers, trying to help the state do the right thing."
The vast majority of fish that are caught survive the trip to the pet shop, according to people in the industry. Nedimyer said his survival rate easily exceeds 90 percent. When he loses fish, it's generally because a flight delay leaves the fish in an area that's too hot or too cold, he said.
Bill Wymard, director of operations for Aquarium Adventure, in Columbus, who has bought fish from Nedimyer since the 1970s, agreed with his survival estimate, saying "when we get them, they're in very good shape."
The Marine Aquarium Council, an international organization that promotes environmentally sound practices in the industry, has established a survival standard of about 99 percent for each species at each stage of the collection and transport process.
Some environmentalists object to the use of the anesthetic quinaldine to catch fish, saying it harms nearby fish and coral reefs. Animal-rights groups oppose the trade in principle, saying it's wrong to confine fish that haven't been raised in captivity.
"We don't think life in an aquarium for a wild-caught fish is what you want to see," said Richard Farinato, director of captive protection for the Humane Society of the United States. "It's such a restriction for the fish. When you consider that these are animals that live in an environment that's an organic, live community -- the reefs, the schools of fish."
The effort to restrict the aquarium-fish trade began several years ago. Concerned when the number of permits rose past 700, the state wildlife commission in 1998 imposed a moratorium on new permits. Even though only a fourth of permit holders actually caught any fish, the commission was concerned that the dormant permits could suddenly come into use.
The moratorium expires next year, and the commission is now trying to establish rules that would permanently hold down the number of permits. Under the proposed rules, only those who have actually caught fish during the past few years could qualify for a permit, with the top-tier permits reserved for those who did at least $5,000 in business in year. The rules would also restrict who could sell their permits.
Among those who would receive only limited permits under the new rules, there's talk that the professionals are promoting the changes just to eliminate competition.
But Jessica McCawley, a biologist with the state wildlife commission, said she thinks the professionals are acting primarily to protect the health of the fishery. Several major players would receive more restricted licenses under the new rules, she said, yet they still support the changes.
The commission is scheduled to vote on the permit restrictions Dec. 1 during its meeting in Key Largo.
Causey said the restrictions will help drive out the amateurs, who hold fish in garbage cans, put incompatible fish together or put big fish in a position to kill small fish.
"It is critical that you have people that are professionals all the way," Causey said. "It will definitely weed out those that are not serious about it."
Staff Photographer Joe Amon contributed to this article.
David Fleshler can be reached at [email protected] or 954-356-4535. Email story
Print story
PHOTO
Ken Nedimyer, owner of Sea Life Inc. in Tavernier, nets a yellow tang
See larger image
(Sun-Sentinel/Joe Amon)
Nov 23, 2004
Lynn DelCorio and Ken Nedimyer separate the containers used for holding their catch
See larger image
(Sun-Sentinel/Joe Amon)
Nov 23, 2004
Exotic catches that might attack each other must be separated in compartments
See larger image
(Sun-Sentinel/Joe Amon)
Nov 23, 2004
Copyright © 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Florida may limit catches of exotic fish for aquariums
By David Fleshler
Staff Writer
Posted November 23 2004
About three miles off the coast of Islamorada, Ken Nedimyer glides along the ocean floor, trailing bubbles from his scuba gear and carrying two nets.
Two yellow jawfish emerge from their sandy holes. He squirts them with an anesthetic called quinaldine and scoops them up. Within a few days the fish would be airborne, packed in oxygen-rich water, on their way to aquarium-supply stores in Columbus and Cleveland.
Nedimyer is among a group of highly skilled Florida divers who earn a living providing live fish to the aquarium trade. He knows where to find angelfish, blue tangs and dozens of other species sought by collectors. Equally important, he knows how to get them alive to Phoenix or New York or Chicago.
But with fish stocks around the world threatened by overfishing, Florida wildlife officials have decided to impose limits on the business of catching live fish for the pet trade. At the urging of Nedimyer and other professionals, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has proposed rules that would reduce the number of permits and offer only limited ones to nonprofessionals.
"This fishery is largely pursued in sensitive areas, particularly coral reef areas," said Lee Schlesinger, spokesman for the commission, a board appointed by the governor that sets the rules for hunting, fishing and wildlife protection. "A lot of people go out and dive and just look at these animals, and we want to make sure there's plenty there for folks to enjoy over the years."
Florida and Hawaii are the only states with substantial aquarium-trade fisheries. In Florida, an estimated 75 to 100 people make a living catching live fish for the aquarium trade, along with about the same number of part-timers. Most work out of South Florida, along the coral reefs that stretch from the Keys through Palm Beach County.
Tom Scaturro, owner of Tom's Caribbean Tropicals of Tavernier in the Keys, dives one day a week. He faxes a list of what he's caught to about 200 pet shops and aquariums, and he posts price lists on his Web page. This week's offerings include medium-sized sea cucumbers for $4 each, large blue tangs for $40, a large strawberry grouper for $12, a porcupine puffer for $24 and dozens of other fish, plants and invertebrates.
On Sunday he assembles his orders. He ships small orders via Federal Express and large orders on commercial airlines. He does about $1,000 a week in business.
The industry catches millions of fish and invertebrates in Florida every year. In 2002, the trade included 29,815 angelfish, 19,273 damselfish, 8,490 surgeonfish and 18,095 wrasses, among many other species, according the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
While no one knows whether the aquarium trade has caused any species to decline, divers and government officials say there appear to be fewer of these fish in Florida waters.
"My gut feeling is that some of these species numbers are down," said Billy Causey, superintendent of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, who himself used to catch fish for the aquarium trade.
Causey and other experts say the drop in numbers could have many causes besides fishing for the aquarium trade, such as pollution, overfishing generally and global warming.
"The blame lies with what we've done to the ocean," Causey said.
Formal stock assessments have not been done for any species captured for aquariums, which means that no one knows whether the current level of fishing is sustainable. This lack of information is precisely why many fishermen are pressing for restrictions.
"There's no science on this fishery," said Nedimyer, chairman of the Florida Marine Life Association, which represents people who catch the fish. "Nobody really has a clue how many fish are out there. There's a handful of us trying to be managers, trying to help the state do the right thing."
The vast majority of fish that are caught survive the trip to the pet shop, according to people in the industry. Nedimyer said his survival rate easily exceeds 90 percent. When he loses fish, it's generally because a flight delay leaves the fish in an area that's too hot or too cold, he said.
Bill Wymard, director of operations for Aquarium Adventure, in Columbus, who has bought fish from Nedimyer since the 1970s, agreed with his survival estimate, saying "when we get them, they're in very good shape."
The Marine Aquarium Council, an international organization that promotes environmentally sound practices in the industry, has established a survival standard of about 99 percent for each species at each stage of the collection and transport process.
Some environmentalists object to the use of the anesthetic quinaldine to catch fish, saying it harms nearby fish and coral reefs. Animal-rights groups oppose the trade in principle, saying it's wrong to confine fish that haven't been raised in captivity.
"We don't think life in an aquarium for a wild-caught fish is what you want to see," said Richard Farinato, director of captive protection for the Humane Society of the United States. "It's such a restriction for the fish. When you consider that these are animals that live in an environment that's an organic, live community -- the reefs, the schools of fish."
The effort to restrict the aquarium-fish trade began several years ago. Concerned when the number of permits rose past 700, the state wildlife commission in 1998 imposed a moratorium on new permits. Even though only a fourth of permit holders actually caught any fish, the commission was concerned that the dormant permits could suddenly come into use.
The moratorium expires next year, and the commission is now trying to establish rules that would permanently hold down the number of permits. Under the proposed rules, only those who have actually caught fish during the past few years could qualify for a permit, with the top-tier permits reserved for those who did at least $5,000 in business in year. The rules would also restrict who could sell their permits.
Among those who would receive only limited permits under the new rules, there's talk that the professionals are promoting the changes just to eliminate competition.
But Jessica McCawley, a biologist with the state wildlife commission, said she thinks the professionals are acting primarily to protect the health of the fishery. Several major players would receive more restricted licenses under the new rules, she said, yet they still support the changes.
The commission is scheduled to vote on the permit restrictions Dec. 1 during its meeting in Key Largo.
Causey said the restrictions will help drive out the amateurs, who hold fish in garbage cans, put incompatible fish together or put big fish in a position to kill small fish.
"It is critical that you have people that are professionals all the way," Causey said. "It will definitely weed out those that are not serious about it."
Staff Photographer Joe Amon contributed to this article.
David Fleshler can be reached at [email protected] or 954-356-4535. Email story
Print story
PHOTO
Ken Nedimyer, owner of Sea Life Inc. in Tavernier, nets a yellow tang
See larger image
(Sun-Sentinel/Joe Amon)
Nov 23, 2004
Lynn DelCorio and Ken Nedimyer separate the containers used for holding their catch
See larger image
(Sun-Sentinel/Joe Amon)
Nov 23, 2004
Exotic catches that might attack each other must be separated in compartments
See larger image
(Sun-Sentinel/Joe Amon)
Nov 23, 2004
Copyright © 2004, South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Only Americans really use quin to collect, now why is that? Oh, American fish just happen to be more expensive per say then other fish as well. Hmm, wonder if thats due to quin prices being so high 
