26 SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #12 – February 2004 J.M., Marshall P., Nyström M., Palumbi S.R., market – What is the problem? SPC Live Reef Pandolfi J.M., Rosen B. and Roughgarden J. Fish Information Bulletin 7:20–27. 2003. Climate change, human impacts, and the Mous, P.J. 2002. Draft Report on the rapid ecologi- resilience of coral reefs. Science 301:929–933. cal assessment in Sangihe-Talaud, North Johannes, R. 1997. Grouper spawning aggregations Sulawesi, . Report from The Nature need protection. SPC Live Reef Fish Conservancy Coastal and Marine Program – Information Bulletin 2:13–26. Indonesia, Bali. Kohno, H., Philip and Imanto T. 1990. Rimmer, M. 2000. Broodstock maintenance and Reproductive performance and early life his- spawning. Department of Primary Industry, tory of the grouper, E. fuscoguttatus. Buletin Queensland:1–4. Pen. Perikanan. Special Edition I:27–29. Ruangpanit, N. 1993. Technical manual for seed Lim, L.C. and Chao T.M. 1990. Observation on the production of grouper (Epinephelus malabari- breeding of brown-marbled grouper E. fusco- cus). National Institute of Coastal Aqua- guttatus (Forskal). Singapore Journal of culture, Dept. of Fisheries, Thailand and the Primary Industrie. 66–84. Japan International Cooperation Agency. Mous, P.J., Pet-Soede L., Erdmann M., Cesar H.S.J., Tucker, J.W. 1994. Spawning by captive serranid Sadovy Y. and Pet J.S. 2000. Cyanide fishing on fishes: A review. Journal of the World Aqua- Indonesian coral reefs for the live food fish culture Society 25:345–359.

To ward MAC certification of Hawaiian Islands collectors: A project update Rezal Kusumaatmadja1, John Parks2, Scott Atkinson3 and Jan Dierking4

Background strengthened the management of the West fishery by developing new fishery regu- Over the past 30 years, the trade lations, enhancing monitoring and enforcement of in the Hawaiian Islands has quadrupled. Annually such regulations, and regularly conducting scien- supplying USD 3.2 million in live reef organisms, tific research on the state of West Hawaii’s coral primarily to US and European markets (Dierking reefs and fish populations to help clarify what lev- 2002), at present the Hawaiian marine aquarium els of catch are sustainable. One of the most impor- fishery is a flourishing business in the islands and tant of these new state-led management efforts has the source of hundreds of people’s livelihoods. been the establishment of nine Fish Replenishment Over the past decade, the majority (58 per cent Areas in 2000. These areas prohibit marine aquar- average annually, Miyasaka 2000) of organisms ium organism collection within approximately 30 exported are captured off of the Kona (west) coast per cent of the Kona coast’s nearshore habitat. of the Big Island of Hawaii (see Fig. 1). Public con- cern over the sustainability of the trade has been MAC efforts initiated in Hawaii voiced for a quarter century, highlighting the need for increased study and careful industry regula- As a result of a reduced collection area without a tion. Decreasing reef fish abundance and overall corresponding decrease in the number of collec- reductions in the West Hawaii commu- tors, there is now increased fishing effort in West nity health are increasingly being blamed by the Hawaii waters remaining open to collection. While public on current levels of aquarium trade opera- the Hawaiian industry largely uses non-destruc- tions, and these suspicions are supported by at tive collection techniques, overharvesting of target least one recent study (Tissot and Hallacher 1999; species is therefore an increasing concern that is Tissot 1999). difficult to control alone through the use of no-take zones and state-mandated catch reporting. In response to growing public concern, the State of Specifically, since the mid-1990s there has been Hawaii Division of Aquatic Resources has increasing interest in how market incentives,

1. Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; Marine Aquarium Council, 923 Nu`uanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA. Tel: +1 (808) 550-8217. Email: [email protected] 2. Community Conservation Network, 212 Merchant Street, Suite 200, Honolulu HI 96813, USA. 3. The Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, 923 Nu`uanu Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA. 4. Dept. of Zoology, U. of Hawai`i, 2538 McCarthy Mall, Edmondson 152, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #12 – February 2004 27

Figure 1. Location of the Kona coast on the Big Island of Hawaii, in the southeastern island group of the Hawaiian Islands. expressed through “green label” certification by •Nearly all (estimated 95–98 per cent) aquarium volunteer industry operators, can move the fishery fish caught along the Kona coast are exported toward ecological and economic sustainability in (via Oahu-based wholesalers) to US mainland the islands. and European markets. • Four tang species make up 90 per cent of As a result, in 2002 the Marine Aquarium Council Hawaii’s total annual ornamental catch, repre- (MAC) initiated a three-year project designed to senting 87.2 per cent of total catch value. The enhance coral reef conservation in the islands by endemic yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens; see facilitating MAC certification of qualifying marine Fig. 2) accounts for well over 50 per cent of all aquarium industry operators and encouraging aquarium fish collected, and the Achilles, naso, market incentives to help move the fishery toward and kole tangs (Acanthurus achilles, Naso litura- long-term ecological and economic sustainability tus, and Ctenochaetus strigosus, respectively) (MAC 2003). In partnership with the Community account for the remainder. Conservation Network (CCN) and The Nature • The total range of species caught for market is Conservancy (TNC) of Hawaii, and with support much wider than these four species, and even from the Hawaii Community Foundation, the first low catches of particularly rare species may phase (May 2002 through September 2003) of this have greater ecological consequences than the new project has been completed. A summary of high catches of more abundant species, such as results generated during phase one follows. the four tangs. • The concentrated collection of only a few Project results to date species within an increasingly restricted area raises further questions regarding whether or First, a baseline investigation characterising the not current harvest rates are sustainable under operations and socioeconomics of the West Hawaii existing management efforts. marine aquarium trade was completed by the pro- • Leverage points and relevant economic incen- ject during 2002. Key findings from this study are tives to encourage potential industry operators as follows (all from Dierking 2002): to become MAC certified have been identified, and will be used in the second (initial certifica- • The West Hawaii aquarium trade is a lucrative tion) phase of the project. one, with reported profit margins for indepen- dent contractors ranging from 43 to 68 per cent Secondly, based on initial outreach and consulta- and wholesalers about 25 per cent. tion with industry operators of the West Hawaii • Estimates of post-collection mortality rates of industry, a small group of marine aquarium indus- Hawaiian fishes within the chain-of-custody try operators along the Kona coast have identified have dropped noticeably since 1984, and are themselves as being potential volunteers for MAC now estimated at less than 1 to 2 per cent within certification over the next year or two. Phase two of each stage of the chain. this project will focus on working with and prepar- 28 SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #12 – February 2004 ing these operators for adoption of industry best To learn more about this project, visit the MAC practices (where not already in place) and subse- website at: www.aquariumcouncil.org quently being reviewed and accredited by a third party as being MAC certified. References

Finally, a public outreach and consultation process Dierking, J. 2002. Socio-economic study of the was initiated with members from the various pri- aquarium fish industry in West Hawaii. mary stakeholder groups in and around West Unpublished report. Arnhem, the Hawaii with interests in or influence over the Netherlands: Cesar Environmental Economics coastal environment and/or the marine aquarium Consulting. 23 p. [Available online at: trade. This process is being used to identify and www.aquariumcouncil.org] secure the critical public support across a diverse MAC (Marine Aquarium Council). 2003. group of individuals from the Kona coast commu- Conserving the outstanding coral reef ecosys- nity that will be necessary for the MAC certifica- tems of the Hawaiian islands by enhancing tion process and to encourage volunteer industry economic opportunities in the marine aquar- representatives to comply with industry best prac- ium fish trade. Unpublished project summary tices. As part of this process, the project is conduct- document. Honolulu, Hawaii: Marine ing a structured, in-depth assessment of stake- Aquarium Council. 5 p. [Available online at: holder attitudes and beliefs regarding the issues, www.aquariumcouncil.org] trends, and opportunities facing the use of West Miyasaka, A. 2000. Status report: Aquarium fish Hawaii’s coastal resources, including the marine collections statistics, fiscal years 1995–1999. ornamental trade (see Parks 2003). The purpose of Honolulu, Hawaii: Division of Aquatic doing this study is to ensure that a diverse and bal- Resources, State of Hawaii Department of anced set of perspectives and considerations is Land and Natural Resources. incorporated into the certification planning and Parks, J.E. 2003. A strategy for the identification, implementation process, thereby strategically outreach, and consultation of relevant marine guiding future project activities and investments. aquarium trade stakeholders in West Hawaii. Unpublished project document. Honolulu, Looking forward into Phase Two Hawaii: Community Conservation Network. 13 p. [Available online at: www.aquarium- The achievement of these three outcomes has posi- council.org] tioned the project to move forward into a second, Tissot, B.N. 1999. Adaptive management of aquar- pilot certification implementation phase in late ium fish collecting in Hawaii. SPC Live Reef 2003. During this second phase, MAC and its pro- Fish Information Bulletin 6:16–19. [Available ject partners will work closely with volunteer online at: www.spc.org.nc/coastfish/News/ “early adopter” trade operators in West Hawaii to LRF/6/06-Tissot.htm] adopt industry best practices and prepare them for Tissot, B.N. and Hallacher L.E. 1999. Impacts of MAC certification. In addition to the preparations aquarium collectors on reef fishes in Kona, for the certification of individual companies, the Hawaii. Final report. Honolulu, Hawaii: project also seeks to achieve certification at the col- Division of Aquatic Resources, State of Hawaii lection area level to MAC Ecosystem and Fishery Department of Land and Natural Resources. Management Standards by developing a collection 32 p. area management plan to encourage coordinated, sustainable resource use by certified parties.

Figure 2. Hawaii’s endemic yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens). Photo © 1997 by Richard L. Pyle, Bishop Museum.