The live fish trade involves capture of live fish, and transportation to restaurant tanks thousands of kilometres away from the location of capture. International trade in live reef fish in the Indo-Pacific region is driven by the demand for ultra-fresh seafood. Live reef fish trade is estimated at between 20,000 and 30,000 metric tonnes a year. The annual retail value is thought to exceed US$1 billion annually. It provides income for fishers, exporters, transporters, importers and retailers. Specific species of fish are particularly targeted in the live fish trade. Groupers and wrasse, are pretty, colourful, attractive fish that look good in fish tanks and are appealing to consumers in restaurants. Fish that are brightly coloured, particularly those that are red tones, are highly valued. Fish catch levels outstrip naturally sustainable supply rates of some fish populations by between two and a half and six times. Napoleon wrasse are particularly susceptible to this trade and the number of this species is in decline. Fishermen in locations throughout Indonesia and the Philippines crush up potassium cyanide tablets into plastic bottles of water. These are then squirted in the face of fish which are stunned, and then easily collected. The cyanide can kill polyps and bleach corals, and corals are often broken in the process of collecting the fish. Once the fish have been caught, they are then transported to land or sea-based holding pens where they recover from the effects of the cyanide. These are often simply large tubs, just big enough to hold the fish.Once recovered, the fish, which are still alive, are then transported by boat or air for overseas markets mainly in Hong Kong or China, but also in Malaysia and Singapore. The live fish trade involves highly organised black market trading and there are issues with both the regulations in place and the enforcement of regulations. There are different regulations in place for fish caught through “wild capture” and those through aquaculture or fish farming. When fish are captured from the wild and then placed in fish pens or tanks, the lines between the two types of fish become blurred and the regulations unclear. By placing the fish in holding tanks, some of the regulations that related to wild capture can be avoided. Hong Kong is the centre of the luxury live fish trade. It is both a transit hub for fish on their way to China, and also a location of high consumption, with fish contributing a high proportion of the daily diet for Hong Kong residents. Live reef fish are a luxury item and seen as a symbol of economic status. There is growing demand for live, rare reef fish as incomes rise in China and Hong Kong. Some grouper species that have been targeted in the live fish trade are now considered “Threatened” or “Near Threatened” on the IUCN Red List. As some species become more scarce the price to purchase them is increasing. This scarcity is making them more attractive as a status symbol, increasing demand. The high prices are providing incentives for fishers to target at risk species even more. They are sold for aquariums and restaurants which stock live fish, and are placed in fish tanks in restaurants so that they can be served “fresh” to consumers. Live reef fish are an expensive delicacy. This industry is worth upwards of $100 million per year. Watch the Youtube clip below about the Live Fish trade in Hong Kong - the destination of many of the live fish caught in the Coral Triangle. ACTIVITIES: 1. Define the live fish trade. 2. Create a diagram explaining the live fish trade. 3. Explain how different regulations for farmed fish and wild capture fish creates a loophole for effective management. 4. Explain why some species of fish are targeted specifically for the live fish trade, and why threatened or near-threatened species continue to be targeted. 5. Explain the impacts of the live fish trade on the overall health of coral reefs.
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AuthorsLorraine Chaffer Categories
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June 2024
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