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) SomeSome individualsindividuals fromfrom thosethose groupsgroups diedie afterafter thethe firstfirst flightflight betweenbetween IndonesiaIndonesia andand Singapore,Singapore, andand othersothers uponupon arrivalarrival toto thethe USA,USA, EuropeEurope oror Asia.Asia.
InIn fact,fact, manymany timestimes entireentire shshipmentsipments ofof thosethose survivorssurvivors diedie soonsoon uponupon arrivalarrival toto aa wholesalerwholesaler facility.facility. TheThe realreal impactimpact ofof thethe BanggaiBanggai cardinalfishcardinalfish tradetrade inin thethe locallocal economy:economy:
TheThe totaltotal numbernumber ofof locallocal peoplepeople currentlycurrently activelyactively involvedinvolved inin thethe BanggaiBanggai cardinalfishcardinalfish collectingcollecting // tradetrade isis aboutabout 6060 fishersfishers, andand lessless thanthan 200200 peoplepeople areare collectingcollecting inin thethe entireentire region.region. Thus,Thus, << 0.1%0.1% ofof thethe BanggaiBanggai regionregion humanhuman populationpopulation (approximately(approximately 160,000)160,000) isis dedicateddedicated toto thisthis activity.activity. TheThe BanggaiBanggai cardinalfishcardinalfish isis notnot aa historicalhistorical // traditionaltraditional sourcesource ofof incomeincome forfor thethe locallocal people.people. nornor tthehe principalprincipal sourcesource ofof incomeincome forfor thethe collectors.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) VulnerabilityVulnerability FactorsFactors: Shallow habitats; Sedentary behavior VulnerabilityVulnerability FactorsFactors: Group formation; Benthic attachment VulnerabilityVulnerability FactorsFactors: Elevated early mortality VulnerabilityVulnerability FactorsFactors: Habitat degradation
Deforestation , Contamination Commercial collecting of benthic organisms
Cyanide used for other ornamentals VulnerabilityVulnerability FactorsFactors: Habitat degradation
CoralCoral DiseasesDiseases VulnerabilityVulnerability FactorsFactors: Habitat degradation DynamiteDynamite FishingFishing PredatorsPredators
Pterois volitans (Scorpaenidae)
Laticauda colubrina (Elapidae)
Epinephelus merra (Serranidae) ParasitesParasites VulnerabilityVulnerability FactorsFactors: 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 WhatWhat cancan thethe hobbyistshobbyists dodo toto help?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