First study of its kind finds aquarium tropical fish imports to the U.S. often misreported

Public Affairs, Roger Williams University

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Roger Williams UniversityDOCS@RWUFeatured News Story The Week at Roger5-21-2012Marine Aquarium Fish Trade Study Reveals FewerFish, More Species ImportedPublic Affairs, Roger Williams UniversityFollow this and additional works at: https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_newsPart of the Higher Education CommonsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the The Week at Roger at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in FeaturedNews Story by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact mwu@rwu.edu.Recommended CitationPublic Affairs, Roger Williams University, "Marine Aquarium Fish Trade Study Reveals Fewer Fish, More Species Imported" (2012).Featured News Story. 29.https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_news/29 News ArchiveMarine Aquarium Fish Trade Study RevealsFewer Fish, More Species ImportedFirst study of its kind  nds aquarium tropical  sh imports to the U.S. o enmisreportedMay 21, 2012As the popularity of marine aquariums rises, so does the demand for wildlife inhabiting them. Mostaquarium  sh are harvested from their natural habitats – primarily coral reefs – and imported into theUnited States by the millions annually.A er a detailed review of import records for marine tropical  sh entering the United States over a year'sspan, scientists found 1,802 species imported, or 22 percent greater biodiversity than previouslyestimated. More than 11 million  sh were imported from 40 countries, which was less than previouslyreported, as many freshwater  sh and marine invertebrates were being mistakenly counted as marine sh. Additionally, they discovered that more than half of government importation forms during thattime had numerical or other reporting discrepancies – resulting in a 27 percent overestimation of tradevolumes.“There is a delicate balance between the global demand for aquarium  sh and its environmental andeconomic impacts,” said lead author Andrew Rhyne, assistant professor of marine biology at RogerWilliams University and research scientist at the New England Aquarium. “Without mechanisms inplace designed speci cally to monitor the aquarium  sh trade, we will never have a keenunderstanding of how it impacts our oceans and the global economy.”“Coral reefs globally are already under tremendous stress from climate change, habitat destruction andpollution,” noted co-author Michael Tlusty, director of research at the New England Aquarium. “Poorharvest practices of tropical  sh for the home aquarium trade can add to that decline, yet when doneright, it can help counter those e ects provided the economic bene ts of long term sustainability aremet locally. That small scale  sheries can provide a framework on which to develop better overallmanagement schemes to protect the reefs.”  The unprecedented study published today in the Public Library of Science (PLoS) was funded by theNational Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program, andconducted by scientists from Roger Williams University, New England Aquarium, U.S. GeologicalSurvey, Boston University, Conservation International, NOAA and the Khaled bin Sultan Living OceansFoundation.At present, multiple sources of trade data exist, but not all data systems were intended to monitor themarine wildlife trade. Researchers looked at aquarium trade imports by comparing the availablecommercial invoices to government forms.The review of shipment invoices revealed the number of  sh reported on shipping declarationsmatched the invoices only 52 percent of the time. Scientists found repeated instances of declarationsmarked as marine ornamental  sh also containing other species, such as freshwater  sh, corals andother non-marine wildlife.The aquarium  sh trade is an economic boon for its largest exporters, notably the Philippines,Indonesia and Sri Lanka. However, as the demand for these exports rise, natural habitats and speciesare impacted. Harvesting these wild species can lead to loss of biodiversity, over shing, and the use ofcyanide and environmentally destructive  shing practices. Furthermore, import countries are at risk forthe introduction of non-native species and diseases.“Despite all of the negatives, coral reef conservation is an o en overlooked bene t of the marineaquarium trade,” said co-author Les Kaufman, professor of biology at Boston University and seniormarine scientist at Conservation International. “Hobbyists who enjoy these  sh and the seasidevillagers who collect them have a common interest – to maintain the coral reefs. Without coral reefstewardship, the marine aquarium trade would eventually cease to exist.”About the New England Aquarium: The New England Aquarium is one of the most prominent andpopular aquariums in North America and is a recognized international leader in ocean conservation,education and research. The Aquarium is among the region’s most-visited tourist attractions and iscultivating widespread public awareness about the bene ts and responsibility in improving the healthof the oceans and the earth.About Roger Williams University: Roger Williams University located in Bristol, R.I., is a leadingindependent, coeducational university with programs in the liberal arts and the professions, wherestudents become community- and globally-minded citizens. With 42 academic majors, an array of co-curricular activities and study abroad opportunities on six continents, RWU is an open communitydedicated to the success of students, commitment to a set of core values and providing a world-classeducation above all else. In the last decade, the University has achieved unprecedented successesincluding recognition as one of the best colleges in the nation by Forbes, a College of Distinction byStudent Horizons, Inc., and as both a best college in the Northeast and one of the nation’s “greenest”universities by The Princeton Review.Share This: REQUEST INFO VISIT CAMPUS APPLY MAKE A GIFTMap & Directions rwu.eduOne Old Ferry Road, Bristol, RI 028091-800-458-7144Contact UsDirectoryNewsEventsAthleticsUndergraduate SiteGraduate SiteSchool of LawSchool of Continuing Studies    © 2018 Roger Williams University. All rights reserved.GMAIL AT RWU BRIDGES MY RWU IT HELP SITE POLICIES WORK AT RWU

Marine Aquarium Fish Trade Study Reveals Fewer Fish, More Species Imported

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Marine Aquarium Fish Trade Study Reveals Fewer Fish, More Species Imported

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