Report on the ezploltaUon of aquarium resources In Western Samoa.

Atonio P Mu.lipola Fisheries Divisi0-9 January. 1995. 1. Introduction:

The exploitation of fish for the aquarium trade have been done in the South Pacific region for many years. Many of these fish are caught in the wild and exported to many overseas markets. The exploitation of these coloured fish are very important in the island countries local subsistence / artisanal fisheries and in particular their economy.

Many species targeted for this enterprise involve those which are small in size and have bright or ornate colouration. Other important species characteristic that are considered include non-restrictive diets and overall adaptability to a captive environment (Pyle, 1993). Records of exports of aquarium fish from Western Samoa indicate that some of the species, sometimes at juvenile stage, are those that form a portion of the catch in the local and subsistence fisheries. Pyle (1993) noted that many of the species collected for the aquarium purpose can be categorised under their general families.

The important ones included; Acanthuridae (surgeonfishes and tangs), Balistidae and Monacanthidae (triggerfishes and fHefishes), Bleniidae and Gobiidae (blennies and gobies), Chaetodontidae (), Cirrhidae (hawkfishes), Labridae (wrasses), Pomacanthidae (angelfishes), Pomacentridae (damseJfishes) and Serranidae (groupers and basslets). A comprenshive listing of individual species exported from Western Samoa for the aquarium trade is given in Appendix 1.

The exploitation of as ornamental purpose was started in 1986 by the Exotic Tropical of Samoa over a six months trial period. The operation was ceased in 1987 despite a one year extension period is granted. The industry was revived again at the end of 1992 when the Lefaga Seaboard Limited was established and based at Gagaifo-ole-vao Lefaga exporting fishes form the aquarium trade. In the late 1993 and early 1994, two other overseas companies with local agents were requested for permits to harvest and export fish for the aquarium trade. No permission was granted to the two requested companies because the potential and the status of the resources is unknown and a formal study of the resources is yet to be conducted. 2. Biology and ecology Pyle (1993) summarises some biological and ecological characteristics of the main families in the marine aquarium trade from the South Pacific. The followings illustrate some of the biological and ecological features of the main families of aquarium fishes.

Fa.Uy Fenia. leproduetiYe StratelY Habitat Strateu

Angel fishes herbivore! harem-forminglpair-forming some shallow to deep reef: (Pomacanthudae) omnivore spp protogynous; spawn at dusk; rubble/coraJ pelagic eggs

Butterfly fishes omnivore! pair-forming/schoot-forming; shallow to deep reef; (Chaetodontidae) plantivore/ pelagic eggs coral and ledges corrattivore

Surgeonfishes & herbivore school-forming; spawn at dusk in aU habitats. depending Ta.ngs large groups; pelagic eggs on species (Acilnthurida.e)

Wrasses omnivore harem-forming/school forming; all babitats. depending (Labridae) protogynous; spawn at all time of on species day (depending on species); pelagic eggs

Groupers &. Bassiets carnivore/ harem-forming/pair-forming/ all babitats. depending (Serranidae) herbivore/ aggregate-forming; protogynous; 00 species; Antiinae form plankivore spawn at dusk:; pelagic eggs. aggregation.

Damselfishes herbivore/ harem-forming/pair-forming; spawn shallow reef coral/rubble (Pomaceotridae) plantivore/ . in morning; demersal eggs AllIph/p/oninbabit sea omnivore anemones.

Triggerfishes &. omnivore harem-forming/aggregate-forming; all babitats. depending on FHefishes demersal sometimes pelagic eggs; species; refuge in boles 00 (Ba1istidae &. some species build nests reef Monacanthidae)

Hawkfishes carnivore harem-forming; spawo at dusk; shallow reef often in (Cirrhitidae) pelagic or demersal eggs association with coral

Biennies &. Gobies omnivore wide variety of reproductive all habitats, depending on (BJenniidae and strategies. depending on species species Gobiidae)

There has no formal study have been conducted in Western Samoa on any biological and ecological aspects of any of the fin-fish species exported in the aquarium fish trade. No information is also available on the current status of stock of particularly species collected for the aquarium fish trade. 3. The utilization of the fishery The export of ornamental aquarium organisms from Western Samoa began in 1986 for six months by one company. the Exotic Tropicals of Samoa. which is registered locally. The company also had a same· operation in American Samoa at the time. The Western Samoa operation employed 3 local divers as fish collectors. The divers operated only in shallow water in the lagoon and and over the reefs and just beyond the reefs. The divers were mainly used snorkels and masks. There was no boat required but a holding tank was used for transferring of captured fishes from the dive site to the base at Faleolo. According to Bell (1987). each diver carried a 5-6ft long x 2 ft high net with 0.5 in. square mesh. a scoop net and a fish-holding bucket. The bucket top was covered with a fine-mesh net which has a zipper. When a a good spot was located. the net was set at the bottom and the fish herded towards it. Fish are either hand-picked or scooped from the barrier net transferred to the holding bucket. It was also noted from this techniques that coral head were oftenly broken to retrieved fishes sought refuge in coral heads. The company's operation was ceased after the first 6-months permit period despite an extension of 1 year period was granted. All of the fish were exported to USA.

The current and sole aquarium fish operation in the country. Lefaga Seaboard Limited. was initiated in 1992 and is locally owned and operated by Mr Tuaopepe F Wendt. The company is a subsidary of the International Seaboard Limited in the USA. The local operation employed 3 Philipino and 2 local divers as fish collectors. The method of collecting fish involves the use of a hookak-system which assisted 2 to 3 divers to collects fish from deeper waters. sometime down at 60 ft depth. Each diver carried a hand net which can be operated individually or by two divers. Air bubbles from the hookak-system were used to scare fishes who sought refuge in coral heads and herded towards the net. Captured fishes were placed in holding tanks on the boat for transferring from dive sites to the base. The land-based holding and packing facilities are situated in Gagaifoolevao. Lefaga. The divers are collecting fishes from Tuesday until Saturday and holding them at floating cages or pens at the base. Packing is usually done on Monday afternoon by 3 to 4 local women for airfreighting to USA.

Fishes were initailly collected from Salelavalu on Savaii Island. Manono and Apolima Islands and Faleolo-Mulifanua-Falelatai on Upolu Island. Currently. the fish aquarium operation is currently concentrating at Lefaga area because other villages have prohibited collection at their adjacent fishing grounds. 4. Production and Marketing. Bell (1987) recorded average number of fish caught per collector per dive in sites where collection occured more than once between October, 1986 and March, 1987 as presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Mea.n numbers of fish caught per collector per dive for sites where fish collection occured more than once during October, 1986 - March, 1987.

Dive au.ber

~======Site 1 2 3 6 7 ======Lefaga 90 115 93.5 47 67.5 94.5 31 Nuu a Vasa Point 86 77 64 Sala.mumu 68.2 242 Hide away ~)3.7 102.3 '0.' Tufu1ele 51.5 92 82 ".'12.7 27 Faleolo 5"1.9 82.3 39.4 16.5 57 32 Apia 193 124.5

Table 3. records the export figures of aquarium fish by the Exotic Tropicals of Samoa during the permit period from Western Samoa during the October, 1986 to March, 1987. These records may not constitute the total exports during the period. However, it showed that about 5,000 pieces were exported and valued at around 7.3 thousand US dollars.

The aquarium fish export was dominated by damsel fishes (49.6%) and followed by wrasses (17.8%) and the other groups made up the rest (3%).

Table 3. Aquarium fish export by the Exotic Tropicals of Samoa from October, 1986 to March,1987. ======C•••on nalle Qty I Tot Value Co••on nalle Qty I Tot 'alue (p.cs) pes (U5$) (pcs) pcs (U5$) ======;======: Atadorsalis 150 3·0 262.')0 Gobies 116 2.3 91.00 Clathrata 5 12.50 Hawkfish 7 12.25 Urodelis 3 9.00 34 70.50 Goldhead sleeper 41 61,50 10 38.00 Angelfish 261 5.2 1135.50 Other 134 2.6 131.80 Bu tterflyfish 226 4.5 50j.jO Pufferfsh 2 4.00 Clownfishes 492 9.8 820.25 Squirrelfish 4 3.00 Damselfishes 248' 49.6 1603.2' Surgeon &Tang 108 2.1 282.'0 FiJefishes 89 125.00 Triggerfish 98 220.50 lJOatfish 53 80.50 Wrasses 691 17.8 1844.00 ======: GRAND TOTAL 5009 7313.05 ======Table 4. summarises the availabe aquarium fish exports by the Lefaga Seaboard Limited during the 1993/1994 period. The 1993/1994 aquarium fish export was dominated by damsel fishes (56.S") (especially Pomacentrus spp. and Chrysiptera spp.). This was followed by wrasses (Labroides spp), clownfishes (Amphiprion spp.) and hawkfishes (Paracirrhitus spp.).

Table 4. Aquarium fish export by Lefaga Seaboard Limited for the 1993 / 1994 period.

===z======z=m==c======.~=_.=.~ ••====az==••=••z=a.c•••2 ••a.=c.=.==z=~••••a=•••=_z.z=c= Fl... Quality Anr..e Value aecorded (,iecH) Price (US$) Val.. (US$) ======: Arothrons 60 1.00 60.00 60.00 Assorted angelfishes 354 0.88 311.52 327.00 Assorted anthias 241 1.33 320.53 345.50 Assorted blennies 282 0.50 141.00 141.00 Assorted butterflyfishes &00 0.77 616.00 654.50 Assorted c1o'Wnfishes 1694 0.'0 847.00 847.00 Assorted damselfishes 26801 0.25 6700.25 6675.25 Assorted gobies 107 0.30 32.10 32.10 Assorted tangs 2081 0.53 '1102.93 115".00 Assorted lriggerfishes 78 0.75 58.50 72.50 Assorted 'Wrasses 8736 0.69 6027.84 6429.50 Bicolor angel 281 1.02 286.62 282.50 Bicolor parrotfish 13 1.00 13.00 13.00 Black &: white snapper 1 1.00 1.00 1.00 Blennies 250 0.47 117.50 100.00 Blue damsel 9883 0.35 3459.05 2575.25 Boxfish 140 1.00 140.00 140.00 Cleaner wrasses 4569 0.50 2284.50 2284.50 Clown trigger 22 1.40 30.80 2'''50 Coral beauty angel 289 0.98 283.22 288.00 Domino damsel 404 0.28 113.12 120.25 Filefish 16 0.25 4.00 4.00 Flagfin a..ngel 196 1.44 282.24 2'7.40 Flame hawkfish 1264 3.00 3792.00 3892.00 Harwick wrasse 397 0.88 349.36 326.50 Heniochus butterfly 828 O.:U 422.28 418.'0 Humu humu triggerfish 567 0.94 532.98 551.00 Imperator angel 22 10.00 220.00 220.00 Lemon angel 66 1.00 66.00 66.00 Lipstick tang 2 0.50 1.00 1.00 Naso tang 106 0.86 91.16 69.00 Orange tang 93 0." '1.1' ,1.50 Other aquarium fish 2732 0.72 1967.04 1613.62 Pauotfish 2 0.7:) 1.50 1.:>0 Povdwer gray tang 2 0.50 1.00 1.00 Regal angel 94 2.00 188.00 188.00 Sailfin tang :> 0.75 3.75 3.50 Scopas tang 682 0.53 361.46 341.50 Sebae clown 608 0.51 310.08 307.75 Tomato clown 576 0.50 288.00 288.00 Yellow angel 281 1.39 390.59 401.00 Yellow popper 2 1.00 2.00 2.00 Yellow tang 4 0.83 3.32 3.50 Z.=.======2S======Z===.="===~======sz=~======c=.z======~====.~z=== GRAND TOTAl 65,631 32,275.39 31.576.62 ======zz=z======:=: About 65.631 pieces of aquarium fishes were exported to the USA by the Lefaga Seaboard Limited and valued at around 0.74 million tala at 2,30 tala exchange rate of the 1 USS to the WS tala.

5. Management In the Fisheries Act of 1988, Part II, 4 (1) prohibits the use of explosive. poison or other noxious substance for the purpose of killing, stunning, disabling or catching fish or in any way rendering fish more easily caught. The proposed Fisheries Regulation of 1994 include minimum size limits for certain reef and lagoon fish species. In the proposed regulation, a list of fish which are harvested for the aquarium trade is also listed as prohibited for harvesting.

The current exploitation of fish for the aquarium purpose is governing by the following special terms and conditions.

Pursuant to Part II 3 (1) of Fisheries Act 1988, the following special terms and conditions are applied for export of marine product outside Western Samoa for aquarium purposes.

1. Dead corals on which rejuventing, new corals are attached should not be harvested. ) ... - I ,. 2. Dead------coral colonies should not be harvested. 3. Coral pieces with no marine life (i.e. only encrusting al~e) attached not permitted.

4. Dead coral pieces of approximately 25 em X 15 em x 15 em with marine life, Zoant.bus spp. (matalelei / matamalu) and Scolymil/ spp. (Iumane I mao'i) not included should be harvested.

5. Juvenile surgeon fish; all species included are not permitted. o. Juvenile angelfish (tifitifi) not permitted.

7. Volume to be exported will be controlled by the Fisheries Division of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Meterology.

8. All marine products for exports are inspected by an Authorised Fisheries Officer prior to packaging,

9. The Fisheries Division of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and· Meterology reserves the right to withhold export permit should anyon~ of the above conditions are not adhered to. Special term and condition (4) was later scratched from the special terms and conditions governing and regulating exportation of aquarium fishes. Coral whether alive or dead was completely prohibited from exporting.

Several recommendations have been identified during the compilation and documentation of the fisheries resources profile of Western Samoa (Bell and Mulipola, t 994 in preparation) could be developed giving guidelines as to the harvesting of marine for aquarium trade are as follows.

1. The harvesting and exporting of coral or any prohibited marine product is permitted only if cultured;

2. Submission of detailed catch statistics per site of collection prior to a shipment is made. Summary of species to be shipped (including numbers and estimated value) each time application for export is made;

3. Standing requirement for operator to notify Fisheries Division to inspect packaging of animals for each shipment to be made;

4. Requirement for operator to notify Fisheries Division of all collection expeditions before they take place detailing areas and dates so that if necessary, Fisheries Division staff will accompany such collection expeditions;

5. In order to increase the spread of the benefits to local people efforts could be made to train individuals within the communities in which collections take place so they will be able to collect and sell to the exporter;

6. The use of chemicals or poisons for collection to be prohibited;

7. Export permits required for each shipment, with quantities and species to be noted. 6. References

Bell, L. (1987). Report on aquarium fish harvesting by the Exotic Tropicals of Samoa. Fisheries Division.

Fisheries Act (1988). Fisheries Division, Department of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Meterology.

Fisheries Regulation (proposed) (1994). Fisheries Division, Departmewnt of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Meterology.

Pyle, L. R. (1993). Marine Aquarium Fish. In Wright, A. and Hill. L. (1993). Nearshore Marine Resources of the South Pacific. Institute of Pacific Studies, Suva., Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara and ICOD. AppendiI 1.

List of fish exported for the aquarium trade from Western Samoa. Enllish co••on naae Scientific naa., (species)

Angelfish bicolor angel Centropyge bicolor Angelfish blue-faced angel Pomacanthus mnthometopon Angelfish co.ra1 beauty angel centropyge bispinosus Angelfish emperor \ ImperatoI' angel Poma.canthus imperator Angelfish flagfin angel Apolemichthys trima.culatus Angels flame angel Centropyge loriculus Angelfish half black angel Cenl.ropyge vrolikii Angelfish herald angel Centropyge heraldii Angelfish majestic angel Pomacanthus mavarchus Angelfish pygmy angel Centropyge flavicuda Angelfish regal angel Pygoplites dia.canthus Basslet dispar anthias Pseudanthias dispar Basslet square anthias Pseuda.nthias pleurotaenia Basslet yellow anthias Pseudanthias pleurotaenia Bassler-queen purple queen Pseudantbias tub Blenny ordinary assorted blennies Salarias spp. Blenny sa.ilfin blenny Salarias fasciatus

Boxfish yellow boxfish Ostra-cion cubicus Buffer yellowface dogface Arothron nigropunctatus

Butteflyfish Klein's butterfly Chaetodon kleinii Buterflyfish auriga butterfly Chaetodon auriga latticed butterfly Chaetodon rafflesii Butterflyfish black-back butterfly Chaetodon melannotus Butterflyfish diamond butterfly Hemitaurichthys polyepsis Butterflyfish false falcula Chaetodon uleintesis Butterflyfishlemonbutterfly Chaetodon citrinellus Buuerflyfish lined butterfly Chaetodon lineola.tus Butterflyflyfish longnose Forcipiger flavissimus Butterflyfish oval spot Chaetodon speculum Butterflyfish saddle back Chaetodon ephippium Buuerflyfish semeion Chaetodon semeion Butterflyfish tear drop Chaetodon unimacu1a.tus Buuerflyfsih vagabond Chaetodon vagabundus Chromis green chromis Chromis atripectoralis

Clownfish cinamon's (tomato) Amphiprion mela.nopus Clow-nfish orange/pink skunk Amphiprion peridaeraion Damselfish 3-stripe damsel Dascyllus aruanus Damselfish 4-stripe damsel Dascyllus mellanurus Damselfish blue damsel Chrysiptera cyanea Damselfish domino damsel Dascyllus trima.culatus Damselfish Palauan yellowtail Chrysiptera. pavo Damselfish reticulated damsel Dascyllus reticulatus Filefish assorted filefish Pervagor spp. Filefish broon filefish Aluterus scriptus Filefish orange spot Oxymonacanthus longirostris Fllefish redta.ll fl1eflsh pervagor tomentosus FussUler yellow fussUler Caesio teres Goatfish bicolor goatfish Parupeneus barberinoides Goatfish ordinary goatfish Parupeneus spp. Goatfish yellow goatfish Parupeneus cyc1ostomus

Goby blue barred Amblygobius phalaena Goby blue face Hoplolatilus starcki Goby ordinary goby Gobiodon spp, Grouper flagtail Cephalopholis urodeta Grouper leopard Epinephelus merra Grouper lunartall Variola louti

Hawkfish arch eye Para.cirrhthitus arctus Ha.wkfish freckled hawkfish Para.cirrhthitus forested Heniochus brown and white Heniochus chrysostomus

Moorish idol Zanclus cornutus Parrotfish bicolor Cetoscarusbicolor Parrotfish palenose Scarus spp, Parrotfish princess Scarusspp.

Pipefish banded pipefish Doryramphus dactyliophorus

Snapper two-lined Scolopsis bilineatus

Squirrelfish red squirrel Sargoncentron diadema Suregonfish mimic tang Acanthurus pyroferus Surgeonfish mimic yellow tang Ctenochaetus strigosus Surgeofish orange shoulder Acanthurus olivaceus SlJrgeonfish powder gray tang Acanthurus nigricans Surgeonfish blue tang Paracanthurus hipatus Surgeonfish convict tang Acanthurus triostegus Surgeonfish saifin tang Zebrasoma veliferum. Surgeonfish scopas tang Zenrasoma scopas

Triggerfish clown t.rigger Balistoides conspicillum Tdggerfish ordinary trigger Pseudobalistes Triggerfish pinktail Melichths vidua Triggerfish rectangle trigger Rhinecanthus rectangulus Triggerfish redtooth trigger Odonos niger Trigger undulated trigger Batistapus undulatus Triggerfish Humu humu t.rigger Rhinecanthus aculeatus

Unicornfish bignose Naso vlamingii Unicornfish lipstick tang Naso lituratus Unicornfish with horn Naso brevirostris Wrasse assorted Labroides spp, Wrasse bicolor Labroides bicolor Wrasse green wrasse Anampses spp, Wrasse rainbow cleaner Labroides pictoralis Wrasse 6-bar wrasse Thalassoma hardwickii Wrasse wander cleaner Diproteacanthurus xanthurus