Aquarium Trade Threat to Pterapogon kaudneri, the Bangaii

Aquarium Trade Threat
to
Pterapogon kaudneri,
the Bangaii cardinalfish
By Eric Borneman on behalf of
Eric Borneman, Alex Vagelli, Frank Marini,
Andrew Bruckner, and MASNA
History
Allen GR (2000) Env Biol Fish 57:142
- First discovered in 1920, described in 1933 (Koumans 1933)
- Forgotten until 1991
-“Rediscovered” in 1994-1995 (Allen and Steene 1995)
- Proposed for IUCN red listing as threatened species in 1999, 2002
Range
32 of 57 islands in the Bangaii
Archipelago
Total area of 5500km2
Potential habitat: 34km2
Vagelli AA and Erdmann MV (2002) First comprehensive ecological survey of the Banggai cardinalfish,
Pterapogon kauderni Env Biol Fish 63: 1-8
Estimated population
-No historical data – estimate 0.6
ind/m2
-Based on collection, retrofits to
historical population of 20 million
- first estimate in 2001
-6 years after collection began
- 2.2 - 2.4 million fish (2007)
- Density 0.08 ind/m2
CITES, COP 14 2007) from Vagelli AA (2005) PhD dissertation
Natural Habitat and Behavior
Associated with benthic invertebrates
May share habitat with other species
(corals, urchins, seagrass, anemones)
Usually in bays, <4.5m depth
Associate in groups of 2-500 individuals
- average size 9.5-21 individuals
Very site attached
Associates with damselfish, clownfish,
and wrasses
Carnivorous planktivore
Lifespan 1-3 years in wild
Vagelli and Erdmann (2002)
Reproductive Issues
Endemic
Low to no dispersal or gene flow
Low fecundity (average 40-50 egg clutch size)
Direct development with long parental care, male mouthbrooding
Highly genetically isolated – two main groups (southwestern and the rest)
- severe population bottlenecks, geographic isolation
- genetic isolation in as little as 2km (same island, different reef)
- largest natural spread of populations: 16km
- Allee effects present
Vagelli AA and Volpedo AV (2004) Reproductive ecology of Pterapogon kauderni, an endemic apogonid from Indonesia
with direct development Env Biol Fish 70: 235-245
Vagelli A (1999) The reproductive biology and early ontogeny of the mouthbrooding Banggai cardinalfish, Pterapogon
kauderni (Perciformes, Apogonidae) Env Biol Fish 56 79-92
Aquarium Collection Issues
Trade began in 1992 (local) and 1995 (international)*1
2.4 million total population
- 0.63m2 in non-collected area (pearl farm) 900% higher
- poaching now occurring and density declining (0.63-0.47 ind/m2)
- 0.08/m2 in collected areas
- 0.03 increased to 0.06 at one site where collection banned for three years
2 extinctions have occurred (perhaps more)*2
Introduced populations expanding
Late 1990s to 2001 – 600,000 – 700,000 collected each year
2001-2004
700,000 – 900,000 collected each year
2004 – present
exceeds 900,000 (>30% of population)
CITES, COP14 (2007), Vagelli pers. comm.
Aquarium Collection Issues
- subject to nematodes, digenetic trematodes, isopods, iridovirus
- impacting survival of collected individuals in past five years
- 60 fishermen, 3 operations*
- CPUE declined 25-80% (1000 fish/hr to 25-330 fish/hr)
- mortality 25-30% post collection
- 15% rejection rates
- 15% mortality post export
- Population decline estimated at 89% (greater than CITES II requirements)
- Population size distributions changed (fewer adults)
- Extinction likely within 10 years, genetic lines lost
CITES COP 14 (2007), Vagelli pers. comm.
Collection Locations
Lunn KE and Moreau M-A (2004) Unmonitored trade in marine ornamental fishes: the case of Indonesia’s
Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) Coral Reefs 23: 344-351
Aquarium Trade Structure
Original retail price $100-150
Today: $15-30
Wholesale prices - $3-7
Lunn and Moreau (2004)
Trade
Information
Lunn and Moreau (2004)
Trade and Economics
Lunn and Moreau (2004)
Some individuals from those groups die after the first flight
between Indonesia and Singapore, and others upon arrival to
the USA, Europe or Asia.
In fact, many times entire shipments of those survivors die
soon upon arrival to a wholesaler facility.
The real impact of the Banggai cardinalfish trade
in the local economy:
The total number of local people currently actively
involved in the Banggai cardinalfish collecting / trade is
about 60 fishers,
fishers and less than 200 people are collecting
in the entire region. Thus, < 0.1% of the Banggai region
human population (approximately 160,000) is dedicated
to this activity.
The Banggai cardinalfish is not a historical /
traditional source of income for the local people.
nor the principal source of income for the
collectors.
Aquarium Trade Introductions
Erdmann and Vagelli 2001
(Coral Reefs) 20: 252-253
-Introduced population by the
aquarium trade in 2000, 2002
-Established populations at four
sites
- aquarium introduced populations at two sites within archipelago (Vagelli 2005, 2007)
- Luwuk harbor
- aquarium introduced populations at numerous sites around Bali (Erdmann, pers comm)
Indirect Pressures to Bangaiis
- Loss of habitat
- coral disease outbreaks
- destructive fishing techniques (cyanide, bomb-fishing)
- co-collection of other species (anemones, urchins, corals)
- collection damage to critical habitat (urchins, corals)
- general degradation
- nutrients, sewage outfalls, siltation, pollution, agriculture
- coral algal, fungal, bacterial cover making unsuitable habitat
- earthquakes
- Iridovirus
CITES COP 14 (2007)
Vulnerability Factors: Shallow habitats; Sedentary behavior
Vulnerability Factors: Group formation; Benthic attachment
Vulnerability Factors: Elevated early mortality
Vulnerability Factors: Habitat degradation
Deforestation , Contamination
Commercial collecting
of benthic organisms
Cyanide used for other
ornamentals
Vulnerability Factors: Habitat degradation
Coral Diseases
Vulnerability Factors: Habitat degradation
Dynamite Fishing
Predators
Pterois volitans (Scorpaenidae)
Laticauda colubrina (Elapidae)
Epinephelus merra (Serranidae)
Parasites
Vulnerability Factors: Easy collection
Conservation Efforts
- Voluntary village protection and private pearl farm
- only Bangaii villagers can fish (permits)
- no international or domestic protection legislation
- No MPA’s or local breeding efforts in place or planned
- no population management, monitoring
- CITES COP14, rejected
CITES COP 14 (2007)
Solutions
- Aquarium or source-based captive breeding programs
- IUCN red list as threatened species in 2007 as endangered
- Development of management plan with enforcement
- Protection and conservation of critical habitat
- Reduction of post-capture mortality
- CITES Appendix II listing to regulate trade, develop sustainable trade, without
affecting local economy (0.1% population, not historical fishery, not primary
source of income
- ESA listing to stop commercial trade without permit
CITES COP 14 (2007)
The Good News!............
Breeding
Breeding at 6-9 months of age
Clutch size – 40-90 eggs
Lunar breeding
females monthly
males 6x/year
sex ratio: 1:1 (more males = more broods, but more aggression)
no sexual dimorphism
Male mouth broods eggs for 20 days, plus 10 before release
Fertilization rate averages 40-60% (unfertilized or lost during clutch transfer)
Clutch size averages (25-29) in captivity, 18 in wild
References: Marini, Vagelli and Volpedo, Bernardo and Vagelli (2004), et al.
Breeding
- cannibalism post-release
- marketable fish within 100-130 days
- survivorship from 66-95%
- currently many local breeders with little effect on market, little entry to market
- extremely easy fish to breed, intentionally or accidentally
- concept of cooperatives to gain entry to marketplace
References: Marini, Vagelli and Volpedo, Bernardo and Vagelli (2004), et al.
Captive Breeding
What can the hobbyists do to help?
To realize that they have the power of deciding the future of
this endangered species, which carries a high degree of
responsibility.
If neither the conservation agencies nor the host Country are
willing to protect it, what will determine the future of this
species is the decision on whether or not to buy wild capture
specimens.
Statement by ALEX VAGELLI, delivered
1pm today by email to MACNA
I would urge the hobbyist community to avoid acquiring wild
capture Banggais until proper protective measures / trade
regulations are in place (CITES or equivalent).
I believe that most hobbyists will be willing to pay a few extra
$ for captive bred individuals, knowing that they can have the
enjoyment of keeping this amazing fish without contributing
to the demise of its natural populations.
The demand for captive bred specimens will give incentives to
the aquaculture industry to increase significantly its
production, which currently it is not very profitable.
Statement by ALEX VAGELLI, delivered
1pm today by email to MACNA
Position Statement
The aquarium trade is almost solely responsible for the rediscovery,
subsequent precipitous decline, and potential extinction of an endemic species.
The species is unique and its loss would be of great ecological impact
The role of the aquarium trade in its extirpation would be highly detrimental to the
continued existence of the marine ornamental trade.
The U.S. is by far the leading consumer of the species and as such should play
a leading role in its continued existence and conservation.
This is a unanimously agreed upon goal in the mission statement of MASNA and
MASNA member aquarium societies.
Final Statement
It is the position of this group to no longer support
the purchase or collection of Pterapogon kaudneri,
the Bangaii cardinalfish, for the ornamental trade
except for use by ornamental breeders (to be
registered with MASNA) until adequate measures
are employed by Indonesia and the ornamental
supply chain to ensure its sustainable collection and
conservation of existing populations in the wild
Acknowledgements
Dr. Andrew Bruckner, NOAA Fisheries, Living Oceans Foundation
Dr. Alex Vagelli
Dr. Frank Marini
Dr. Mark Erdmann, Conservation International
IUCN
Species Survival Network
CITES
MASNA board, and especially Cheri Phillips
Steve Pro, Matt Wittenrich