SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #6 – Dcember 1999 27 then there are incentives for the live food industry, The live reef food fish industry is a valuable fishery from fishers through to wholesalers, to reduce the for Southeast Asia. Effective co-operation of govern- current catch to ensure the industry’s sustainability ments, industry and other stakeholders, has the in the future. Co-operation at an international level potential to ensure live reef food fish stocks are sus- is imperative; some reef fish stocks are likely to tainably managed, to provide a sustainable liveli- straddle borders as will fishing effort and the hood for coastal fishers and thus an incentive for transport of live fish. Without formulation under coral reef conservation throughout Southeast Asia. an international agreement, voluntary reductions in trade are unlikely to arise or to succeed.

The Hong Kong trade in Live Reef Fish for Food by P. Lau & R. Parry Jones 1

Despite world-wide concerns about the methods Humphead wrasse are in fact prohibited from the used of catch live reef fish and the portable unsus- Philippines and specimens of a certain size are pro- tainability of the trade, scant detailed information hibited in exports from Indonesia. Capture of this was available at the consumer end. This project species and its export from the Maldives, another was thus carried out, from May 1997 to February Hong Kong supplier, are also prohibited. Traders 1998,2 to collate available information on the trade, noted that they were aware it was illegal for this to put forward recommendations with a view to species to be exported from certain areas and noted strengthening current regulations where appropri- that smuggling is a common phenomenon. ate, and to highlight areas in need of further research. The study focuses upon the quantity, Import data from the Hong Kong Census and species and origin of LRFF imported into an re- Statistics Department (HK CSD) record the largest exported out of Hong Kong, the structure and quantities of ‘other groupers’ and ‘other marine dynamics of the Hong Kong trade, and demand in fishes’ as being imported from Thailand. Malaysia Hong Kong market. Research was conducted was reportedly the main source of Coral trout through questionnaires with restaurateurs and imports. Thailand and Malaysia are also important traders of live reef food fish and through analysis sources for so-called ‘cultured’ species such as of available import and re-export statistics. Brown spotted grouper Epinepbelus areolatus/E. bleekeri, Green grouper E. coioides, Malabar grouper Hong Kong is believed to be the largest consumer E. malabaricus and Mangrove snapper Lutjanus of LRFF in Asia as well as an important entrepôt argentimaculatus, which are mostly grow-out speci- for re-export of LRFF (Johannes & Riepen, 1995). mens of wild-caught juveniles. Taiwan appears to Hong Kong imports LRFF from over 10 different be the only place where significant amounts of countries/regions. The majority of these fish are groupers are hatchery-reared. China was the major caught in tropical reef habitats in the Southeast source of snooks and basses to Hong Kong in 1997, Asian countries and increasingly in the remote supplying over 96% (by weight) of total imports. Pacific archipelagos. Southeast Asian countries were found to be the main countries of origin. Faced with declining stocks in traditional fishing grounds such as the Philippines (Barber & Pratt, Indonesia and the Philippines were, respectively, 1997), fishers and traders have been forced to look the main sources of LRFF imports into Hong Kong ever further afield to meet growing demand. Papua as well as the main sources for Giant Grouper New Guinea and the Solomon islands, as well as the Epinephelus lanceolatus, High-finned grouper Maldives, are becoming increasingly important Cromileptes altivelis and for Humphead wrasse source countries for live reef fish, although with the Cheilinus undulatus. Of concern is that exports of former two this may also be due, in part, to the recent

1. This document is an executive summary (slightly condensed) of: LAU, P. & R. PARRY JONES. (1999). The Hong Kong trade in Live Reef Fish for Food. TRAFFIC East Asia and World Wide Fund for Nature Hong Kong, Hong Kong 2. Although this report was published in June 1999 it is based on 1997 data. Another report on the same subject, but based on l998 data, was published after this issue of the Information Bulletin went to press. It is: PAWIRO, S. (1999). Trends in major Asian markets for live grouper. Infofish International 4/99: 20–28. The author describes a number of problems that hit the live reef food fish industry in l998 and predicts that consumption, already falling in l998, ‘will continue to fall for the next few years.’ 28 SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #6 – December 1999 push by Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to increase food fish—the main mode of transport for exports of LRFF (G. Sant, pers. comm., Sept. 1998). Humphead wrasse. Furthermore, under the cur- rent Marine Fish (Marketing) Ordinance (Chapter Air transport has become increasingly important 291), the category ‘marine fish’ does not, ironically, for transporting fish as it enables a faster and more include ‘live fish’. There are no inspections of live reliable supply. Transport by sea, however, is still food fish imported into Hong Kong and declara- used for imports of the larger specimens of Giant tions by species are not checked. There is, how- grouper and Humphead wrasse as larger speci- ever, no obvious reason for deliberate misdeclara- mens fare better if transported by sea. Although tion of imports into Hong Kong as imports are not transport methods have, in general, been devel- subject to taxation and, although it is illegal to oped to a high standard, very high rates of mortal- export Humphead wrasse from certain countries, ity, up to 90% (Sadovy, in litt. 1998) can occur when this does not make it illegal to import the species juveniles are transported for mariculture and for into Hong Kong. adult fish transported prior to sale. Mortality is an issue of conservation concern because it is live fish, Giant grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus, Humphead which are in demand. Hence, more fish need to be wrasse Cheilinus undulatus, High-finned grouper caught to compensate for those that die in transit in Cromileptes altivelis, Red grouper Epinephelus akaara order to meet demand. and Coral trouts Plectropomus spp. were, respec- tively, the most highly valued fish. In 1997, Hong Kong imported an estimated 32,000 tonnes of live reef fish for food, of which an Wholesale prices, in 1997, ranged from US$ 38/kg estimated 3200–6400 tonnes were re-exported to for Spotted coral trout to over US$ 100/kg for the China. Local consumption is estimated to be smaller specimens of Giant grouper. Overall aver- around 25,600–28,800 tonnes per year, and LRFF age wholesale price for reef fish was US$ 20/kg traders estimated that 75% of imports were com- (Sham, in litt., 1997). The estimated total annual prised of the 11 most commonly available species value of live reef fish imported into Hong Kong for in Hong (traders, however, use the same common food therefore exceeded US$ 500 million. The value name—Chi Ma Ban (Brown spotted grouper)—for of this fishery industry far exceeds Hong Kong’s E. bleekeri and E. areolatus). Thus, although they total annual seafood production by its entire tradi- spoke of the 11 most commonly available species tional capture fleet (Lee & Sadovy, 1998). there were in fact 12. These were Humphead wrasse Cbeilinus undulatus, Leopard coral trout Retail prices for the 11 most commonly consumed Plectropomus leopardus, Spotted coral trout P areola- reef fish species ranged from around US $30/kg for tus, High-finned grouper Cromileptes altivelis, a large Tiger grouper to around US$ 175/kg for a Green grouper Epinephelus coioides, Flowery small (< l kg) Humphead wrasse. As fish served grouper E. polyphekadion, Brown spotted grouper whole are preferred to slices of fish, the larger spec- E. bleekeri/areolatus, Tiger grouper E. fuscoguttatus, imens of Giant grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus, Tiger Giant grouper E. lanceolatus, Red grouper E. akaara, grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus and Humphead and Mangrove snapper Lutjanus argentimaculatus. wrasse Cheilinus undulatus, have a lower wholesale price per kg than smaller specimens of the same Trade data from the HK CSD show that species. Interviews with restaurateurs revealed that Hong Kong recorded imports of 21,000 tonnes only Leopard coral trout Plectropomus leopardus and of live marine food fish (except eels)—a discrep- Green grouper Epinephelus coioides were the two ancy of 11,000 tonnes with this study’s estimate. most popular species and Humphead wrasse and Analysis and comparison of officially recorded Giant grouper the least common species consumed imports with interviews with traders provide an in Hong Kong restaurants. Most consumers eat insight into the shortcomings of the current moni- Giant grouper and Humphead wrasse as a status toring system in Hong Kong. Traders revealed that symbol due to their rarity and high price rather than although Indonesia and the Philippines were the for their the taste and texture. main countries of origin for Humphead wrasse imports, other countries exporting this species also Demand for reef fish peaks during festivals with included Australia, China, Malaysia, the Maldives, demand highest on Mother’s Day. Second to festi- Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, vals are special events such as celebratory ban- Thailand, and Vietnam. These countries are not quets—the two most important banquets being recorded in the CSD data. Discrepancies in the two Wedding banquets and Birthday banquets, respec- data sets may also be attributed to other factors: tively. Traders also noted that consumers apparently locally licensed fishing vessels and locally licensed preferred wild-caught individuals over cultured live fish transport vessels in Hong Kong are species, and wholesale and retail prices are adjusted exempt from declaration of imports of live reef accordingly. Retail price for wild-caught Red SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #6 – Dcember 1999 29 grouper, for example, is 60% higher than for cul- a. Tiger grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus tured Red Grouper, apparently due to the rarity of b. Flowery grouper, Epinephelus polyphekadion this species in the wild and the relatively poor tex- c. Leopard coral trout, Plectropomus leopardus ture of cultured specimens. Findings of blind taste d. Spotted coral trout, Plectropomus areolatus tests, however, showed that overall, people pre- e. Green grouper, Epinephelus coioides ferred cultured Malabar grouper Epinephelus mal- f. Mangrove snapper, Lutjanus argentimaculatus abaricus to wild-caught specimens (Omni’ Trak Group Inc., 1997). Tiger grouper, Flowery grouper, Leopard coral trout and Spotted coral trout are among the most The preference for the smaller, and thus sexually important live reef food fishes in the Hong Kong immature, specimens of Giant Grouper and Hump- industry and subject to intense fishing pressure. head wrasse is an issue of great concern. Both these species are naturally scarce and particularly vulner- The Government of the Hong Kong (SAR) also able to overfishing. Specimens of other species in should be encouraged to share its expertise and to the Hong Kong market, such as Malabar and Tiger work with other member-nations of the Asia groupers, were also found, in large part, to be sexu- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to establish ally immature. Given the low density of species a comprehensive and standardised system for naturally occurring on coral reefs, the preference for monitoring trade of live reef fish in the region. sexually immature fish and the large quantities in Imports from countries newly entering the trade, trade, current catch levels may not be sustainable. such as the Maldives, Papua New Guinea, the Although Coral trout commonly consumed in Solomon Islands, US Oceania and Sri Lanka, Hong Kong are within the range of sexual maturity, should be monitored as exports of LRFF from these the high demand for this species may make it sus- countries develop. ceptible to overfishing. An additional issue of con- cern is the increase in supply into Hong Kong of The Government of the Hong Kong (SAR) could certain groupers during the spawning season. strongly recommend that nations which have Targeting spawning aggregations can be devastat- banned the export of Humphead wrasse and Giant ing for stocks. Range states for coral reef fish will grouper explore the possibility of listing these two have to take the main initiative and responsibility to species on Appendix II or Appendix III of the protect and use wisely their marine resources. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Recommendations agreed upon at the 1997 APEC Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Despite Workshop on the Impacts of Destructive Fishing the fact that exports of Humphead wrasse of a cer- Practices on the Marine Environment should con- tain size are banned from Indonesia, that all stitute the basis from which range states work- exports are banned from the Maldives and certain towards conserving their coral reef resources. areas of the Philippines, this species is still found in Consumer countries, however, such as Hong Kong, trade from these locations into Hong Kong. A also have an important role to play. As the main CITES listing would aid the HK SAR Govern- consumer of reef fish, Hong Kong could take the ment’s regulatory efforts. initiative in working with member-nations of APEC towards establishing a comprehensive and stan- An identification manual should be prepared to dardised monitoring system for reef fish in trade. assist government officers in the recognition of fish Although Hong Kong already monitors imports of species and to assist traders in making consistent certain species of reef fish, this monitoring system declarations. Confusion between Malabar grouper could be improved upon. and Green grouper is but one documented exam- ple where an ID manual would be a useful tool. Recommendations Effective channels of communication should be The primary recommendation for Hong Kong is to established in Hong Kong between stakeholders amend the licensing and classification system for in the live reef fish industry. The Government of locally registered fishing vessels and locally regis- the Hong Kong (SAR) should also maintain dia- tered transport vessels bringing in live marine fish logue and conduct regular exchanges of informa- so as to enable recording of all LRFF imports into tion with governments of exporting nations. Hong Kong. The term ‘marine fish’ in the Marine Research should be conducted to determine con- Fish (Marketing) Ordinance (Chapter 291) also sumer attitudes towards the consumption of reef should be redefined so as to include ‘live fish’ in fish to ascertain the most effective means of the definition of ‘marine fish’. Although Hong involving the public in the protection of coral reef Kong already monitors imports of certain species habitats, the impact of destructive fishing meth- of reef fish into Hong Kong, trade records should ods, and the consequent impact on the trade and be amended to specify: consumption of LRFF. 30 SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #6 – December 1999 Countries exporting LRFF should establish quotas Further research into hatchery-based mariculture to ensure the long-term sustainability of their fish- should be encouraged as currently all mariculture eries. Lack of full scientific certainty should not operations, with the exception of mariculture oper- be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective ations for Green grouper E. coioides and Malabar measures to prevent environmental degradation grouper E. malabaricus in Taiwan, are based upon (FAO, 1996). grow-out of wild-caught juveniles.

The use of chemicals in the live fish export industry by Katherine Kelly 1

Attention has recently been drawn to the use of chemical product or unapproved active ingredient, chemicals in the live fish trade. This article will or to use a registered product in a manner not attempt to clarify the use of chemicals, the included on the label. Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service’s (AQIS) role and the National Registration One chemical registered for use in the handling and Authority’s (NRA) requirements. harvesting of Salmonids is ‘AQUIS-S’, an aquatic anaesthetic. This chemical may currently be used for The live fish trade has an annual export income of other species in a ‘off-label’ capacity (with a veteri- about AU$ 20 million accounting for 15% of the narian prescription) or with a ‘minor use permit’ total commercial landings of demersal reef fish in obtained from NRA. Restrictions apply on when Queensland, with catches primarily of coral trout and how the chemical is to be used and permission in north Queensland. In the reef/line fishery for use is only for the applicant concerned. about 110 licensed fishing boats have changed over to live reef fish operations, with production There are currently no antibiotics registered for use in 1997 at 369 tonnes (QLD Fisheries News, Issue 2, on fish destined for human consumption. As the June 1998). NRA can only deal with drugs and chemicals that have a direct effect on animals, the debate over The pressure to use chemicals such as anaesthetics water conditioners being a NRA issue continues. and antibiotics has increased with the reduction in airfreight capacity due to the down turn in tourism The process to register a chemical with NRA is flights from Asia to far north Queensland. currently expensive and time consuming. It has Purpose-built cargo boats are currently used to been argued that no single manufacturer is likely transport fish to Hong Kong. to invest in registering new uses for existing chemicals because their share of an increased Transportation time has increased resulting in a market will be too small, to warrant the invest- greater need for water conditioners to remove ment. In addition, once chemical is registered, all ammonia, antibiotics to reduce infection and competing companies can expand their own label anaesthetics to sedate fish. claims without significant expense.

Asian companies are pressuring exporters to use The process of obtaining a ‘minor use permit’ for a chemicals banned for use in Australia. Chemicals registered chemical to be used in another ‘use pat- used for veterinary or agricultural purposes during tern’ is less costly and more acceptable than ‘off the production of food intended for human con- label’ veterinary prescriptions. sumption must be approved and registered for use by the NRA. The NRA is responsible for registering AQIS is responsible for ensuring that exported fish is chemicals for that ‘use pattern’ (this means for a safe and wholesome for human consumption, under particular species and purpose). the Commonweatlh’s Export Control Act’s 1982 and its subordinate regulations the Export Control A chemical may be used ‘off label’ if prescribed by (Processed Food) Orders. The ‘Orders’ require that a veterinarian or if the user has obtained a ‘minor exported fish may not contain contaminants or use permit’ form NRA. According to legislation, it residues potentially harmful to humans or in quanti- is an offence to possess and use an unregistered ties exceeding limits determined by relevant domes-

1. Information Extension Officer, Fisheries Group, Department of Primary Industries, Queensland, Australia