Exploitation of Coral Reef Fishes For the Marine Aquarium Trade in Kenya: a Preliminary Assessment - Final Technical Report Contract 19/2004 Item Type Report Authors Okemwa, G.M.; Fulanda, B.; Ochiewo, J.; Kimani, E.N. Publisher Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) Download date 24/09/2021 06:45:39 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/1834/8990 Exploitation of Coral Reef Fishes For the Marine Aquarium Trade in Kenya: A Preliminary Assessment FINAL TECHNICAL REPORT CONTRACT 19/2004 Principal Investigator: G. M. Okemwa Co-investigators: B. Fulanda, J. Ochiewo and E. N. Kimani Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute P.O. Box 81651-80100, Mombasa Kenya September 2006 Okemwa G. M. et al. (2006) Exploitation of Coral Reef Fishes for the Marine Aquarium Trade in Kenya Table of Contents 1.0 BACKGROUND - 4 - 2.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS - 6 - 3.0 RESULTS - 10 - 3.1 Trade Links and Dynamics of the Supply Network - 10 - 3.2 Monitoring and Regulation of the Trade - 10 - 3.3 Harvest and Handling Methods Used - 11 - 3.4 Packaging and Transportation - 12 - 3.5 Key Collection Sites - 14 - 3.6 Export Markets - 14 - 3.7 Species Harvested - 16 - 3.8 Catch and Effort Trends in the Shimoni Area - 18 - 3.6 Post Harvest Mortality of Fish - 20 - 3.9 Impacts of Aquarium Fish Collection in the Shimoni Area - 21 - 4.0 Socioeconomic Dynamics of the Aquarium Industry in Kenya - 24 - 5.0 DISCUSSION - 27 - 5.1 Constraints and Limitations of the Study - 32 - 5.2 Recommendations - 33 - 6.0 REFERENCES - 36 - LIST OF FIGURES: Figure 1. Map of Kenya coast showing key collection sites .............................. - 9 - Figure 2. Monthly trends in the volume of fish exported from Kenya ................- 15 - Figure 3. Temporal trends from the Shimoni area .........................................- 19 - Figure 4. Mortality of fish landed from Shimoni ............................................- 20 - - 1 - Okemwa G. M. et al. (2006) Exploitation of Coral Reef Fishes for the Marine Aquarium Trade in Kenya Figure 5. A) Differences in fish abundance of target aquarium fish between unfished and fished sites in Shimoni; B) Differences in species diversity of target fish between fished and unfished areas in Shimoni..............................- 22 - Figure 6. Fish abundance of target species between unfished and fished sites ...- 23 - Figure 7. Age frequency distribution of aquarium fish collectors.......................- 25 - LIST OF PLATES Plate 1. Divers fishing at Shimoni..............................................................- 12 - Plate 2. Loading of fish for transportation to holding aquaria.........................- 12 - LIST OF TABLES: Table 1. Export Destinations for Marine Aquarium Fish From Kenya .................- 15 - Table 2. Species distribution by percentage of the top 20 species harvested from Shimoni (Mar 2004 – Apr 2005) ...............................................- 17 - Table 3. The top 5 species most harvested grouped by family from Shimoni ....- 18 - Table 4. Summary of the catch dynamics of marine aquarium fish collection at Shimoni (March 2004 - Apr 2005................................................- 19 - Table 5. Single-classification ANOVA comparing variance in benthic cover in unfished and fished sites in Shimoni ........................................................- 24 - Table 6. Socioeconomic Characteristics of Aquarium Fish Collectors .................- 25 - Table 7. Pearson Rank Correlations ............................................................- 26 - - 2 - Okemwa G. M. et al. (2006) Exploitation of Coral Reef Fishes for the Marine Aquarium Trade in Kenya ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We graciously thank WIOMSA-MARG 1 for financial support. We also thank Kenya Tropical Sea Life, and Kenya Airways - Cargo Section, Moi International Airport Mombasa for the data provided. Logistic support was provided by the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, Kenya Wildlife Services, and the Department of Fisheries. We particularly thank Ms. Janet Kaleha, Kisite Marine National Park Warden, Mr. Ali Musin, Kwale District Fisheries Officer; Mr L. Thairu (Fisheries Department), Mr. C. Muthama (KMFRI) for technical assistance during the course of the study. Finally, we thank the unnamed fish collectors for sparing their time us. - 3 - Okemwa G. M. et al. (2006) Exploitation of Coral Reef Fishes for the Marine Aquarium Trade in Kenya Abstract Kenya ranks among the top exporting countries in the marine aquarium trade within the Western Indian Ocean region. However the industry has received limited attention by way of research and monitoring despite being established in the mid 1970’s. Over time, there have been increased concerns about the environmental impacts of aquarium fish collection in Kenya resulting in resource use conflicts. A survey was conducted in 2005 with the aim of providing baseline quantitative information on the dynamics of the fishery. The survey evaluated trends in the harvest and export of marine ornamental fish in order to better understand the dynamics of the industry using available government statistics, logbook returns from a leading export company and airfreight data. Trends in key species harvested in Shimoni, their mortality rates and the catch per unit effort of fish collectors was further assessed. To assess impacts of fish collection in Shimoni, a rapid underwater fish census was conducted comparing fished and protected sites. Key findings of the study include the first time estimation of approximately 192 fish species that are harvested and exported from Kenya. Approximately 70% of the fish harvested from Shimoni during March 2004 to April 2005 belonged to 4 families namely Pomacentridae-damselfish, Labridae - wrasses, Acanthuridae- surgeonfish and Gobiidae-gobies. Ten species made up 58% of the catch, with the most harvested species for the trade being the anemonefish Amphiprion allardi (10%) and the angelfish Centropyge acanthops (9%). The aquarium fish collectors landed an average of 24 - 33 fish/ man/day. However differences were observed between divers and snorkellers. Results of the underwater census revealed differences in fish density, species richness and habitat characteristics between fished and protected sites, with fished sites having an overall higher density and abundance of target fish species and higher algal abundance. Among the key recommendations from the survey is the need to strengthen monitoring, to improve current regulatory mechanisms, and to promote strong stakeholder involvement in management of the fishery. Key Words: Kenya – Shimoni - marine aquarium reef fish – fisheries management – harvest trends - collection impacts - species diversity 1.0 BACKGROUND Ornamental marine species (corals, invertebrates and fish) are the highest value-added product that can be harvested from coral reefs and are an important source of income for many rural, coastal communities in developing countries (Lem, 2001). Globally, the marine ornamental fish trade began in the 1930’s but became firmly established in the 1950’s on a commercial scale, and further expanded into a multimillion industry in the 1970’s, with fisheries operating all around the tropical world (Moore and Best, 2001). The trade in aquarium fishes (including freshwater fish) is now a major industry involving approximately 350 million fish annually with a value of $963 million (Tissot & Hallacher 2003). Between 1.5 and 2 million people worldwide are believed to keep marine aquaria (Moore & Best, 2001). The marine fish account for about 10 to 20% of the global aquarium trade with a total of 1,471 species of fish being traded. (Andrews 1990; Wabnitz, 2003) and has an import - 4 - Okemwa G. M. et al. (2006) Exploitation of Coral Reef Fishes for the Marine Aquarium Trade in Kenya value ranging between $28 - 44 million USD. The largest demand (99%) for ornamental fish is from home hobbyists, and the remaining 1% is from public aquaria and research institutes. The trade involves over 40 countries in the supply market with 85% of the organisms being exported from the Philippines and Indonesia and the remaining 15% being obtained mainly from the Pacific Island countries, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Florida, the Red Sea, Sri Lanka, Indian Ocean Island countries, and East Africa (Baquero 1999; Wood 2001). The three major destinations include North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Within the Western Indian Ocean, Kenya ranks first among countries that include Mauritius, South Africa, Madagascar, Tanzania and Reunion respectively. On a global scale, Wood (2001) ranked Kenya’s aquarium fishery as medium in size involving the collection of 50,000 – 200,000 individuals. There have been increased concerns in Kenya on the potential impacts of intensive collection of fish on the exploited populations and their associated habitats which has generated localized user conflicts between aquarium fish collectors and other stakeholders (mainly artisanal fishers, dive-tourism operators and environmentalists). Despite being established in the early 1970’s, it was notable that the marine aquarium industry in Kenya has received limited attention by way of research and monitoring. As a result, there is a lack of quantitative and qualitative data available to verify the impacts of exploitation and the overall status of the export trade which is critical in guiding the Kenya government not only to mitigate these concerns but also to improve the overall management of the fishery so as to ensure long term sustainability. The need to institute research