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Does LINI Support a Wild-Caught Banggai Cardinalfish Boycott?

Those of you who have been following my entries regarding the resurgance of the Banggai cardinalfish issue in the wake of Eric Borneman's call to boycott wild-caught individuals at MACNA know that I have been speaking with Gayatri Reksodihardjo of Yayasan Alam Indonesia Lestari (LINI). LINI is involved right now with creating a comprehensive management plan for the Banggai cardinalfish that will provide a sustainable trade in wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish. As such, it might appear self-evident that LINI would not support a ban or boycott on wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish, but many of you have asked me just that. Does Gayatri support Eric's call to action? When I posed this question to Gayatri, she responded with several questions of her own that help to define the scope of the issue:

Will a boycott of wild-caught BCF help the survival of species and the ecosystems in Banggai? Are these issues even under serious consideration by the traders in the buyer countries, and should they be? Whose responsibility is it anyway?

These are obviously complex issues, and the only thing upon which everyone seems to agree is tha we don't have the data, cooperation or clarity to answer any of them definitively. Nonetheless, Gayatri took a crack at it.

We are trying to understand Eric’s point of view," says Gayatri. "If only we could believe that [a boycott] would somehow act as an incentive for people to change their mindset and practices.

Gayatri wonders why, if aquarists are truly concerned with the welfare of individual species, a boycott of the trade in other species where, according to her, the exploitation levels are more alarming, is not being discussed.

Why not boycott the collection of hard corals, blue tangs, and many other highly sought-after species, she asks. "Is it because these are of much higher value, and it is still profitable to buy wild-caught rather than captive-bred or propagated?"

Point taken, but when it comes to the specific issue at hand, where does LINI come down? Does LINI support the call for an immediate boycott in the trade of wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish?

"Now that this issue has attracted more attention among the traders and end-buyers worldwide, we would rather see the Indonesian end of the trade given a chance to get its house in order, as it were," says Gayatri. "In the case of the BCF, the implementation of a management plan will go a long way towards regulating trade in the Banggai area, and provide an opportunity to offer greater protection to the marine resources there. Given sufficient support and goodwill, we predict that the development of a management plan and its successful implementation, including sustainable collection practices for the BCF – with government and industry support--will then serve as a model for the future of the MO trade here in Indonesia."

As I have previously reported here, a draft management plan, according Gayatri, is expected for review in November 2008, although, as she points out, "sufficent support and goodwill" will be essential to not only completing the management plan but, more importantly, implementing it.

"If after another five years," Gayatri says, "the evidence shows that the situation overall has not improved, then by all means let us reconsider our strategy. The point is that now we have a window of opportunity to make some significant changes for the better."

Beyond supporting the sustainable trade in wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish in the interest of giving aquarists a choice between wild-caught and tank-raised individuals, LINI sees the socio-economic benefit to the people throughout the Banggai Islands as a reason to forgo a boycott.   

"An immediate boycott would cause financial hardships to the collectors, and they would lose what little incentive they currently have to protect their resources. These people are among the poorest sector of Indonesian society. They have no alternative sources of income, no assets, no savings, and most are in debt–largely to the fish buyers who loan them money and thereby force down the prices paid for the fish even lower. The current situation promotes a type of ‘economic slavery’. We predict that one impact of a boycott would be to make many of the collectors revert to the use of cyanide and bombs to catch food fish. This would work directly against the development of any management plan."

Sharks Kill Sharks at Dubai Aquarium

Sand Tiger Shark (Carcharias taurus) by Richard Ling 2005

If you have been following my blog posts of late, you know I have written more than once in the last month about public aquarium sharks. Well my entries about the great white at Monterey and the swell shark at the Aquarium of the Bay pale in comparison to this story:

"Sharks attack each other in world's biggest aquarium in Dubai; Shark fights in one of the world's biggest aquariums are threatening the opening celebrations of Dubai's flagship new mall."

That was the headline in the Telegraph for an article by Richard Alleyne published on 26 September. "More than ten percent of the sharks in Dubai Aquarium's 10 million-litre aquarium have been killed in attacks that have marred the build-up to its grand opening on Oct 30," opens Alleyne.

The shark-eating-sharks in question? Sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus), sometimes called grey nurse sharks, which can reach 320 cm (10.5 feet) and can be found in all warm seas (except, perhaps, the eastern Pacific).

A New Legend - The Dubai Aquarium

The soon-to-open Dubai Aquarium is located in the soon-to-open Dubai Mall, which is, according to its official website, "A place like no other."

A new day, a new dawn. From the wind swept sands, a new legend rises. A mall of epic proportions that is named The Dubai Mall. Indisputably, the most dramatic retail real-estate development. Not just in the Gulf's history. But in the world.

Wow. That's bold stuff, but it seems there is trouble in this most dramatic retail real-estate development. With just over a month to opening day, the Aquarium, which (according to the Mall's own press release) "is one of the [mall's] most highly anticpated opening day attractions," is having trouble maintaining the peace amongst the world's single largest school of sharks.

According to Alleyne's article, "Sand tiger sharks have killed at least 40 smaller reef sharks and been aggressive towards divers working on final preparations in the giant tank."

Inevitable Carnage

The Dubai Mall's General manager, Yousuf Al Ali admitted, is quoted in the Telegraph as saying, "It is inevitable that aquatic species die–sometimes out of natural causes or out of injuries inflicted by bigger fish species.... Sand tiger sharks, by nature, are fish-eating. However, all sharks and other animals in the Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre at The Dubai Mall are currently on a monitored feeding schedule in order to subdue their naturally opportunistic behaviour and appetite."

Hmmmmmmm.

Critics Ask Questions

Some critics of the Dubai Aquarium have been inclined to question the appropriatness of housing more than 400 sharks together in captivity, but, seeing that it has never been done before, it's hard to say whether the aggression is due to poor husbandry, poor planning or simply bad luck. Regardless, one might question the motives of why the Dubai Aquarium desired to house the world's largest school of sharks when the Dubai Mall's own literature advertises the shark exhibit as "an adrenaline-fueled visual experience."

The advertising campaign goes on to promise that "Shark and ray-watching will quickly become a favourite leisure pursuit as Dabai Aquarium and Discovery Centre feature the world's single largest school of sharks including 45 sand tiger sharks, 45 grey reef sharks and up to 30 spotted eagle rays." Unfortuantely, the recent carnage caused by the tiger sharks may lessen the leisure, although it's not clear whether it will lessen the attraction given people's uneasy relationship with sharks.

Husbandry In-Line with Accepted Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare Policy

Before being too judgemental of the Dubai Mall's motives, it's worth noting that the Aquarium was developed by Oceanis Australia Group, which happens to be the world's largest aquarium owner and opeartor. They currently have operations in Australia, South Korea, China, and Thailand. Further, according to the Dubai Mall's public relations office, "Dubai Aquarium & Discovery Centre is being developed in line with an accepted Code of Ethics and Animal Welfare Policy, prescribed by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA)."

Mr. Al Ali adds that the Aquarium "conforms to the internationally-accepted best practices in its design, development and management."

According to an article in the Khaleej Times the sand tiger sharks arrived at the Dubai Aquarium in early July. The wild-caught animals had previously been kept in an aquarium in Singapore for at least a year.

Public Aquarium Shark Husbandry

Swell Shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) being released into an off-display quarantine tank at Aquarium of the Bay

Christina J. Slager is the Aquarium of the Bay’s director of husbandry, and she recently took the time to talk a little shark husbandry with me as a means of following up on my recent blog entry on the Aquarium’s acquisition of a new swell shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum). While the Aquarium of the Bay has had tremendous success with swell sharks, Slager does not endorse this shark’s use in home aquaria. Nonetheless, cat sharks from the genus Cephaloscyllium are the most common home aquarium shark, but more on this in a bit.

“The acclimation procedure [for the Aquarium’s new swell shark] involves the following steps,” says Slager:

Cross-check the pH, temperature and salinity of the water that the animal was transported in against that of its holding tank.

Attempt to match parameters of transportation tank water with that of the holding tank.

Add holding tank water to transportation tank and let the animal acclimate for 45 minutes.

Put the shark in its own holding tank, where it will stay for four weeks.

During that four-week period, Slager says the animal will be visited regularly by the in-house veterinarian and monitored daily by the Aquarium’s aquarists and director of husbandry. Afte four weeks, the shark (which can grow to more than 100.0 cm (around 40 inches) will be moved to a 350,000-gallon tank.

The 350,000-gallon display houses other California natives. “Tankmates will include Aquarium of the Bay’s seven other swell sharks, Garibaldi, Anchovies, Black Sea Bass, Kelpfish, Ocean Whitefish, Rockfish, California sheephead, a Giant Pacific Octopus, and others,” says Slager.

Once settled in to its new home, the shark’s husbandry protocol will include monitoring and feeding the animal three times per week during a broadcast feed. “The Aquarium will feed [the shark] a rotation of restaurant-quality seafood including squid, whitebait and krill, in addition to multivitamin sea tabs.”

Slager points out that the Aquarium’s aquarists dive in the exhibit tanks daily to care for and monitor the animals. In her opinion, swell sharks are good public aquarium animals. “Swell sharks are heartier and less sensitive,” she adds. “[They] are good candidates for professional care, but not for home hobbyists.”

Banded Cat Shark (Cephaloscyllium punctatum) courtesy of Mark Martin Collection

Despite Slager’s opinion, cat sharks from the genus Cephaloscyllium are undoubtedly the most common sharks in the North American marine aquarium trade. Relatively abundant, inexpensive and hardy (if provided with the proper environment and husbandry), cat sharks like the banded cat shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) are popular amongst the admittedly small sub-set of aquarists who are set-up to keep sharks. Eggs cost in the neighborhood of $40-$50, while the sharks themselves can range from $50-$250 (plus freight) depending on size.

Just because sharks like cat sharks are abundant and inexpensive does not mean, however, that it is a good idea to keep them in the home aquarium. People's opinions vary greatly on thesubject, but many experienced aquarists, such as Bob Fenner, suggest that it is "best [to] go see them at a public aquaria." Having said this, even Fenner does conceded that if you must have a shark, only keep "the smallest species that have sedentary (bottom sitting) behavior." He also recommends to only keep tropical species, and this is a point worth reiterating.

Unfortunately it is all to common for sub-tropical and temperate species to be sold as topical species. Maintaining a true temperate tank is often expensive (cooling water is infinately more expensive than heating it) and unreasonable for the home aquarist. Adding a temperate or sub-tropical shark like a swell shark to a tropical tank constitutes little more than cruelty to animals (by the way, the same applies to most margarita snails, Margarites pupillus, but that's another soapbox for another day).

Banggai Cardinal Fish Threatened with Extinction?

I was chatting with Matt Pedersen the other day about the Banggai cardinalfish situation and sustainable collection and export practices at the local level. We both agreed that a well-managed, sustainable trade in wild-caught BCF was appropriate, but, as Matt warned, “What stands in the way is that wild-caught Banggais are probably not really being 'fair traded', or at the very least, they are so inexpensive that captive-bred fish cannot compete.” Matt's concern is that such a situation is, as he puts it, “wrong with a fish that has low fecundity and on some level HAS officially been recognized as an endangered species.”

But wait. Didn’t I write in Banggai Cardinalfish Boycott or Bluster? that it had been determined that “the species did not meet the biological criteria for Appendix II listing” according to CITES? Doesn’t that mean that, as the criteria for Appendix II listing states, the Banggai cardinalfish does NOT need to “be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival”? So how can Matt say that the species has “officially been recognized as an endangered species”? I’m so confused.

Here’s the deal. Matt was referring to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUNC) Red List of Threatened Animals which lists the Banggai cardinalfish as “endangered.” So what is the IUNC Red List? To quote directly from the Union’s website:

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on taxa that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those taxa that are facing a higher risk of global extinction (i.e. those listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable).

So yes, as Matt reminded me, the Banggai cardinalfish “on some level HAS officially been recognized as an endangered species.” So then why would CITES turn around and say that this animal should not receive the protection that Appendix II provides? The answer to that question is either simply that CITES did not accept the data upon which the IUCN based their listing or…

…well it’s a BIG or, and it opens up a whole other can of worms (and I’m talking a can of big pink polychaetes worms), which I will leave to another entry. Suffice it to say that it may have something to do with politics, international law and “Vagelli, A.,” a “Coral Reef Fishes Red List Authority” and one of the leading researchers on the Banggai cardinalfish.

Stay tuned.

New Shark at Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco

Swell Shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) being released into an off-display quarantine tank at Aquarium of the Bay

People love sharks, and, as such, sharks contine to be popular species for public aquarium exhibits and even home aquaria. Unfortunately, sharks are difficult animals to keep, and there are those that feel strongly that they are inappropriate animal for any aquarium setting. The reality, however, is that with the proper equipment and husbandry practices, many species of sharks can make good aquarium species.

Today, the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco acquired an 18-inch swell shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum). The Aquarium, about which I blogged recently in terms of its outstanding educational outreach program, currently has seven other swell sharks. Sometimes referred to as balloon sharks or puffer sharks, the swell shark is a common public aquarium species, although it is rare in the marine aquarium hobby. This individual hatched from an egg case which was found on Seacliff State Beach (Santa Cruz County) in February 2006 and was housed in a 150-gallon aquarium at the state beach’s visitor center until it was transferred to the Aquarium of the Bay.

The swell shark is from the family Scyliorhinidae, commonly known as the cat sharks. This animal, which can reach 100.0 cm (nearly 40 inches) ranges throughout the Eastern Pacific from central California to the Gulf of California and southern Mexico (where it is called Gato hinchado) south to central Chile. The nocturnal swell shark is found in both inshore and in deeper waters and has been recorded as deep as 457 meters (1, 500 feet). It is common around rocky kelp beds and is known to feed on mollusks and crustaceans as well as both live and dead fishes.

Swell Shark (Cephaloscyllium ventriosum) in quarantine tank at Aquarium of the Bay

The swell shark’s scientific name—Cephaloscyllium ventriosum—is derived from the Greek and translates roughly as “large belly head shark.” The reference to the large belly refers to the animal’s ability to inflate (or swell, hence the common name) its stomach. It is thought that the swell shark does this so as to appear larger to potential predators such as larger sharks and marine mammals including seals.

The swell shark has a flat, broad head with a short snout and a very large mouth. In fact, the swell shark’s mouth is proportionally larger than the mouth of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). The swell shark is sometimes confused with the leopard shark (Triakis semifasciata), which, although similarly colored, is readily differentiated by the location of the shark’s first dorsal fin (the first dorsal fin is behind the pelvic fins on the swell shark).

This is the second swell shark that the Seacliff State Beach Visitor Center has raised from an egg case. The previous swell shark now resides at UC Santa Cruz's Long Marine Lab.

At the outset, I said that with the proper equipment and husbandry practices, many species of sharks can make good aquarium species. While this has proven true, the question is ought we to keep sharks (or any marine animal for that matter) in captivity? You can probably guess my opinion, given that I am a marine aquarium hobbyist who believes a robust and sustainable hobby is a desirable ends. For me, a shark can be an umbrella species. In other words, people, for whatever reason, are drawn to sharks (remember, the first great white shark display at the Monetery Bay Aquarium in 2004 drew more than one million visitors to the aquarium), but in becoming interested in sharks, some of those people also become interested in the ecosystems in which those animals live. These can lead one to develop an appreciation for hundreds of other "less sexy" species that have a relationship to the one umbrella species.

Banggai Cardinalfish Update from the Field

Gayatri Reksodihardjo e-mailed me the other day about my 22 September blog entry regarding the Banngai cardinalfish (BCF) which calls for a boycott of wild-caught BCF from within the industry. For those who don’t know, Gayatri is with Yayasan Alam Indonesia Lestari (LINI), a local Indonesian not-for-profit organization established in January 2008. LINI’s mission is “to support the conservation and management of coastal marine resources throughout Indonesia, by empowering coastal communities, and promoting fairer, more sustainable practices of marine resource use.” Staffed by individuals who originally worked for the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC), LINI encourages the marine aquarium industry to adopt the MAC standards and implement best practices towards eventual certification (MAC International now focuses solely on certification).

While funds for BCF work have been slow to come from the local government due to local politics and administrative restructuring in the Banggai district, LINI is moving forward with the goal of “a win-win situation” according to Gayatri. “The government supports the plan to implement certification of wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish for the marine aquarium trade, and LINI will support the government in providing the necessary training for eventual certification.” Gayatri says the long-term goal is to encourage captive breeding in buyer countries while focusing on capacity building at the supply side.

“We strongly believe that buyers need to be able to make more informed choices about the organisms they buy,” says Gayatri. “We think that it is still important to have wild-caught fish on the market that have been caught in well-managed sites, using best practices.”

Of course this only works when sites are well managed and everyone involved in collection, holding and export is using best practices. This is currently not the case in the Banggai Islands when it comes to the Banggai cardinalfish, but LINI is working hard to change that. Gayatri reports the following recent accomplishments of which aquarists and industry insiders should be aware:

·         A series of meetings were facilitated by the national government for the development of a Banggai Cardinal Fish Management Plan. The draft plan is expected to be reviewed in November 2008.

·         The Banggai fisheries district has started monitoring the harvest of BCF from the Banggai area. Six months’ worth of harvest data have now been collected, and a review of the harvest figures and potential quotas will be conducted toward the end of this year. These data will be used as one of the key tools when reviewing the management plan of the area.

·         The Banggai district government established a number of marine conservation areas in 2007. These will need to be fully implemented with the full understanding and support of the local communities.

·         A population survey assessment for BCF populations outside the Banggai Islands will be conducted later this year. Populations in Bali, for example, could provide another significant alternative source of good quality wild-caught fish if properly managed.

·         The BCF will be the flagship species for the trade here in Indonesia, and the current work on the species will provide a model for the development of management plans for other highlighted species of marine aquarium fishes.

There is obviously a lot more to report, but this is latest from Banggai. I have expressed to Gayatri that I am committed to presenting information from the field through a variety of outlets, but I hope to always publish here first. I firmly believe the Banggai cardinalfish situation is an important and timely one that, in many ways, is a microcosm of the broader industry. With transparency, honest communication and constructive collaboration between all stakeholders from hobbyists to collectors we can use this microcosm as a place to test, observe and tweak strategies that may then be adopted industry-wide.

As I’ve said before (and I’m sure I’ll say again), this is a complex issue, and various stakeholders have strong opinions based on their unique perspectives. As such, I welcome all comments. Whether or not you agree with LINI’s approach or support MAC, I think we can all agree a win-win situation is in everyone’s best interest.

Defining what a win-win looks like in both the short- and long-term is the trick, now isn’t it?

Banggai Cardinalfish Boycott or Bluster?

In my blog entry of 12 September 2008 titled “A Retailer that Cares,” I expressed interest in Matt Wittenrich’s recent blog entry highlighting Eric Borneman's call to boycott wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni). I went on in my blog entry to share a story about a retailer that has elected to use a self-imposed system of restricting certain species for sale based on that species’ status and the overall health of the wild population. The program, called CARE (Conscientious Aquarist Restricted Species), uses the Banggai cardinalfish as the visual component of the program’s logo, and wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish were one of the first species listed as a CARE species.

So do I think that hobbyists should boycott wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish?

I said in that blog entry that “I tend to agree with Matt and Eric,” although I did allude to some other thinking on the subject when I wrote, “some industry people I really respect have challenged me as of late about whether or not this is an issue over which we should be drawing a line in the sand.” The industry person whom “I really respect” happened to recently write a letter to Microcosm Aquarium Explorer titled “Boycott? Bah.” Bob Fenner, author of The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, opens that letter with a statement that may surprise some people:

“This species is not threatened in the wild.”

Bob roots this statement in his own first-hand experience, and I can tell you he is not the only one to think this way. In fact, most individuals with whom I have spoken who have first-hand experience in the waters around the Banggai Islands (the indigenous habitat for this species) agree with Bob’s assessment. Further, the March 2007 “Report of the Second FAO Ad Hoc Expert Advisory Panel for the Assessment of Proposals to Amend Appendices I and II of CITES Concerning Commercially-Exploited Aquatic Species” (now that’s a mouthful!), the panel concluded that the proposed inclusion of the Banggai cardinalfish on CITES Appendix II was unwarranted because the species did not “meet the biological criteria for Appendix II listing.” Here is what the Panel concluded:

The information provided in the proposal to support inclusion did not demonstrate a decline to criterion levels for population size. Although one subpopulation has been extirpated there was no evidence of decline in area of occurrence or number of subpopulations to criterion levels. Recent harvest levels are compatible with productivity although there are risk factors. International trade is the major factor driving exploitation of this species.

In short, the science does not at present support the claim that the Banggai Cardinalfish “must be controlled in order to avoid utilization incompatible with their survival” (which is the standard for inclusion on Appendix II).

So why would Eric Borneman, certainly a respected name from both a science and a hobby perspective, give a presentation on boycotting wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish at MACNA, why would that presentation be so well received, and why would Matt (again a trusted name) write enthusiastically about Eric’s presentation? I do not (and will not) presume to know Eric’s or Matt’s motivations, but I can share my own thoughts on the subject. I’m sure Matt and Eric will do the same.

I believe that the marine aquarium industry has had a significant impact on this species, but I also believe that we currently lack the data necessary to define the scope of that impact. As Ron Lilley wrote after his trip to the Banggai Islands on behalf of the of the Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) in the fall of 2007, “Although attempts have been made over the past few years to study this fish, the research has been narrow, short-term and piecemeal. This has led to conflicting accounts of its true status. There is an urgent need to conduct longer-term monitoring and data collection so that fish population trends may be identified and strategic action taken.”

To me, given our lack of good data, we, as an industry and has individual hobbyists, are not misguided in going slow regarding how we approach the retail sale of wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish. Does that mean a boycott is the answer? To be honest, I don’t know, but, as I said in my previous blog post, I do support a company like Blue Zoo Aquatics (the company with the CARE program) that chooses to self-regulate based on their perception of the situation. Likewise, I support individual aquarists who choose to not purchase wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish—again based on their perception of the situation in and around the Banggai Islands.

Speaking of perception, this is really the take-home point for me in regard to the Banggai cardinalfish. This is, as Lilley points out, the first popular marine ornamental fish to become an international CITES issue. Whether warranted or not, this species has gotten the airtime, and, as such, I think we as an industry need to be very careful in terms of how we are perceived in relationship to this animal. At the very least, given this species’ relatively limited range and huge popularity in the hobby, it seems reasonable to assume that an appropriate management plan must be in place and sustainable collection techniques must be employed if we are going to actively market wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish.

At present, it is my understanding that a comprehensive management plan is not in place, nor are sustainable collection practices being consistently employed. Until such time as we have the data, a management plan in place and sustainable collection techniques in use, self-regulating either at the retail level of the hobbyist level seems appropriate to me.

As always, this is a complex issue with many, many facets and myriad shades of gray. I certainly don’t want to ignore the economic value to Banggai collectors, especially as I believe that supporting (and growing) sustainable economies throughout developing regions such as Indonesia is one legitimate justification for a sustainable and robust marine aquarium industry. As the aforementioned Panel pointed out, “Short-term socioeconomic impacts of listing could…be significant for local communities.” Likewise, the short-term socioeconomic impacts of self-regulation will probably prove significant for local communities. Nonetheless, in the interest of sustainability (both environmental and economic) the ecosystems and the animals they support must always come first, which brings me to my final point for today.

The real risk in my mind of focusing too much industry energy and resources on the Banggai cardinalfish issue is that it diverts our attention away from other issues which arguably need more attention and are having a greater impact on ecosystems. While the Banggai cardinalfish may get the air time and be more “sexy” than discussing the down and dirty of destructive fishing practices, we absolutely must take it upon ourselves as an industry to keep our eyes on the big picture.

I’m certain there will be more to come on this issue, and I welcome your comments...

Hurricane Force and Saltwater Fish (.com)

Image of the flood waters in Gonaïves, Haiti after Hurricane Jeanne (2004) USAID photo

As you know, it’s been quite a hurricane season in the Western Atlantic with one island in particular getting more than its fair share of weather. Haiti experienced three devastating hurricanes and a tropical storm within a single month. More than 400 people are dead and thousands are homeless in the wake of the storms and their destructive flooding. Crops were wiped out and infrastructure is in shambles; the very real possibility of starvation, disease and civil unrest make the future frighteningly uncertain. Amidst this backdrop, it is encouraging to see at least one company in the marine aquarium industry reach out to this island that provides some of the hobby’s favorite species.

As Saltwaterfish.com wrote to their customers in an e-mail dated Spetmber 17, 2008:

“As many people are aware, the country of Haiti has been devastated by four hurricanes in the past six weeks. The fishermen who collect our fish in this country are dealing with unspeakable hardships as this poor island nation tries to cope. No electricity, little food, and chaos in the streets are just some of the problems. The fishermen need to get back to work so we are going to try and sell as much of their livestock as we can to help them get back on their feet.”

Will a 24-hour sale on royal grammas (Gramma loreto) by one online retailer of marine ornamental livestock save Haiti? Of course it won’t. Could Saltwaterfish.com have done more for the fishermen of Haiti than offer wild-caught, Haitian royal grammas for $1.99 (they usually charge $15.99 according to the e-mail)? Maybe. But to me, that’s not really the point. To be honest, I’ve no idea whether or not Saltwaterfish.com is above reproach. What I do know is that when I called Scott Hughes, Saltwaterfish.com’s owner, to discuss the e-mail, there was an earnestness grounded in empathy in his voice that made me believe that he wants to see a sustainable, more interconnected and thoughtful industry, and that, in my opinion, deserves some airtime.

The point is that there are people in the marine aquarium industry who see the connectedness between the hobby and people living in the Western Hemisphere's poorest country. The point is that there are people who strive to make a difference beyond the bottom line through innovative, thoughtful leadership. In short, we must see ourselves as part of a mutually beneficial relationship—a relationship that can and should give back to the very people and ecosystems that make the marine aquarium hobby possible in the first place.

A lot of criticism can be thrown our way, and, to be candid, we need to own and deal with too large a percentage of it. But there is a bigger picture here, and all of us can be as much a part of that new story as the stories that currently get the headlines--destructive fishing practices, aquarist-caused caulerpa invasions and lionfish introductions. We need to be on the lookout for ways to demonstrate the best of what this hobby can be and can do for conservation and developing economies. So kudos to Saltwaterfish.com.

I just hope it won’t always take a natural disaster to induce us all to rise to the occasion.

A Retailer that Cares

I was interested to read what Matt Wittenrich had to say about Eric Borneman's call (at MACNA 2008 in Atlanta) to boycott wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) (see Matt's blog entry titled Boycotting the Wild Banggai Cardinalfish, 10 September 2008).

I have been interested in the Banggai issue for quite some time, and I tend to agree with Matt and Eric, although some industry people I really respect have challenged me as of late about whether or not this is an issue over which we should be drawing a line in the sand. Regardless, Mark Martin, my co-author on the forthcoming The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Saltwater Aquarium (December 2008), and I chose to include a sidebar on wild-caught versus tank-raised Banggai cardinalfish in our upcoming book as an example of what being a conscientious aquarist means in the 21st century.

I am excited that Mark was willing to put his money where his mouth is by also addressing the Banggai issue within his company--an online retailer of marine livestock. This past June, Mark's company launched the "CARE Initiative." CARE stands for "Conscientious Aquarist Restricted Entry," and is a designation his company has started to apply to certain species they elect to self-regulate. The Banggai cardinalfish is at the center of the CARE logo (seen above) and, not surprisingly, was one of the first species to be designated a CARE species.

As a CARE species, the company only sells wild-caught Banggais to scientific institutions, public aquaria and serious breeders. For everyone else, they sell tank-raised Banggais, and they make an effort to put those on sale as often as possible to lessen the allure of inexpensive wild-caught Banggai cardinalfish sold by other online retailers and LFSs. 

"Some might ask why on earth we would self-regulate a species that is legal to sell and for which we can make a healthy profit," Mark says, "but there's really no question in our minds. For us it has always been all about the animals, and the CARE species designation is simply an extension of that sentiment."

Mark believes that a sustainable hobby is in everyone's best interest, and he think that self-regulation is almost always preferable to regulation imposed by people who may not understand fisheries, the marine aquarium industry, or the role that marine aquarists play in tropical reef conservation.

Will the CARE Initiative save the Banggai Cardinalfish? Of course not--not in and of itself at least. "It is, however, one small way to raise awareness and have an impact," says Mark. "We have to start somewhere."

Mark does point out that his company will continually re-evaluate the status of various animals and either add or remove species from the CARE list based on wild populations, new husbandry practices and other information.

"My ideal scenerio would be that other retailers would choose to adopt the CARE Initiative," says Mark. "I would love to see us in the industry working together more on issues like this. Wouldn't it be cool if the wild populations of Banggais bounced back to a point where we didn't have to have a CARE designation any more?"

Until that happens, however, my kudos to Matt, Eric and Mark for fighting the good fight in the best interests of the hobby, the industry and, most importnatly, the animals and ecosystems in which those animals live.

Aquarium Serves Students through Free Education

I read today that the Aquarium of the Bay in San Francisco, California announced that they had a record-breaking 15,549 students visit the Aquarium during the 2007-2008 academic year...all for free!

If you are familiar with my writing, you know that I believe education is paramount because it is education that begins a dialog. This is the reason I want to highlight the Aquarium of the Bay and the work they are doing. Aquarists--be they hobbyists or professionals--and aquaria--whether private or public--have a unique opportunity to provide meaningful, hands-on education that is as relevant today as it has ever been given the myriad threats to marine ecosystems. 

Carrie Chen, the Aquarium of the Bay's Education and Conservation Director, says, "Aquarium of the Bay recognizes the continuous budgeting challenges that Bay Area schools and educators face, and is pleased to supplement science-based education with our classroom and tour programs. For many students, their class visit provides the first opportunity to get up close and personal with sharks and various animals that live in the San Francisco Bay, and gain understanding for the Bay Area's diverse ecosystems."

What aquarists amongst us does not know the power of getting "up close and personal" with a marine animal? What aquarist has not experienced the emotions of curiosity, wonder, appreciation, and empathy when face-to-face with marine fishes, corals, and other invertebrates? All of us, from the most most modest home nano tank keepers to the staffs of the largest public institutions, need to realize the role we can play in making a connection between the animals we keep and the issues those animals face on a global scale as a direct result of human stressors.

Simply sharing our passion (be it hobby or profession) freely with others begins a dialog that can make a very real difference. Kudos Aquarium of the Bay!