Page 89 - Vegan Life - Issue 59 (February 2020)

Natural Resources states on its website
that the state's ‘Existing aquarium
fishing practices are sustainable and
environmentally sound’. However, data
collected by the department actually
shows significant declines in several
valuable aquarium species, including the
Achilles tang, ornate wrasse, and fourspot
butterflyfish. But, also according to the
department, other species, including the
yellow tang, have increased (dlnr.hawaii.
gov). Umberger, along with many other
experts, disagrees with the claims that
Hawaii’s collection fishery is sustainably
managed, stating that she has witnessed
high-value target species decrease on
Hawaii's reefs since she began diving here
in the early 1980s. Instead, she believes
they have largely gone to aquariums and
at home tanks. She says: “The diference
between then and now is huge — it's like,
‘Where have the fish gone?’.”
How to help
any wiser. And, when they are discovered, Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). The most direct way to end the trade
few cases are oficially filed, and even less When we consider how expansive the of tropical fish is to stop buying them
culminate in convictions. Dante Dalabajan, industry is, the evidence of how fish — for keeping in a tank at home, or for
a lawyer from the Environmental Legal are collected and how many species eating at an exotic restaurant — and
Assistance Group, says that there have only are afected, along with the lack of to boycott aquariums, zoos or similar
been “six in the past six years.” credible information about the impacts institutions that house them for viewing.
With cyanide fishing, the number of the trade, CITES protections must be This is the only way to decrease the
caught is massively increased compared instigated. Without global restrictions on demand, thereby reducing the supply.
to line and net fishing, resulting in chronic the trade, the fate of thousands of fish If you love watching fish, environmental
overfishing. Joe Padilla of WWF Philippines species is controlled by national laws organisation, For the Fishes, recommends
comments: “Look at the places where live which, in most countries, are insuficient. creating a virtual aquarium (using an
reef fishing started a decade ago. They app, images or video programme), as a
have all been fished out now. The traders “During the past half low-cost and ethical way of enjoying the
and the migrant fishermen just scoop it all beauty of marine life. If you have friends
up and move on.” century more than or family who are keen hobbyist fish
As well as being directly damaged 2.2 million pounds collectors, advise them of the impacts of
by cyanide, coral is afected indirectly keeping fish (to the animals themselves,
by the sheer scale of overfishing that is of cyanide was used and the environment), with especial
conducted in this manner. Many species illegally across mention as to how they are caught. If
of tropical wild-caught fish play key Philippine coral reefs” they are adamant to continue, direct
biological roles in keeping coral structures them to the free smartphone app, Tank
clean — they do this by eating algal Watch, conceptualised by Umberger in
vegetation. When these species become As a result of the lack of protections, 2014. This programme was designed
eliminated or reduced in numbers, coral laws and enforcement of the cyanide ban, to help collectors determine whether
can become overwhelmed by algae, some species have become threatened, ‘ornamental’ fish in retailers have been
afecting the ability of coral polyps to including the Banggai cardinalfish. taken from the wild, or bred in captivity.
reproduce. John Gorman, head curator at Collectors have depleted this fish from It lists reef fish species that are widely
the Maui Ocean Centerreproduce explains: its native waters of Indonesia, with it available through captive breeding
“You can wind up with these algafied coral recently being listed as threatened by the programmes, to sway them from cyanide
reefs that can't recover.” US government. captured breeds. Understandably, it
Yet, there is somehow still debate does not prevent the immoralities and
Threatening populations as to how tropical fish collectors, as exploitations that captive bred fish
Although the trade of tropical fish is a opposed to fishers in other industries, are oten experience, yet, the app is at least
huge and worldwide industry, very few afecting target species in the countries a means of moving buyers away from
of the fish species that go into aquariums they are taken from. For example, in wild caught fish, thereby preventing
are protected under the Convention Hawaii, where cyanide is used less than in overfishing, ecosystem destruction and
on International Trade in Endangered other places, the Department of Land and fish deaths in transit. ■

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