FILE: AS94-3.TXT AQUATIC SURVIVAL 24/04/95 <<< VOLUME 3, NUMBER 3 - SEPTEMBER, 1994 >>> ag508 TABLE OF CONTENTS || To quickly find the section required, do a text search for the || section number including the "<" and ">" brackets || e.g. search for: || to find section n 1 Newsletter Introduction 2 Short Announcements 3 The Conservation of West African Fresh and Brackish Water Fish and Fisheries - by Gordon McGregor Reid 4 President's Message 5 Letters 6 The Straddling Stocks on Canada's Atlantic Coast - by Earl Wiseman 7 The Care and Breeding of _Pachypanchax omalonotus_ - by Roger Langton 8 An Introduction to Coastal Zone Management - New Book 9 Conservation Constraints and Opportunities for the Aquaculture Industry - by Rob Huntley 10 Threatened Fishes of the World in EBF 11 The ACN Affiliate Club Program 12 "Captive Breeding Guidelines" - by Rob Huntley 13 Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization - by Julian Hynes 14 Species Survival Plans: Strategies for Wildlife Conservation 15 Neotropical Ichthyological Association - 1994 16 Notebook 17 Natural and Human-Induced Change in Madagascar: an International Symposium at the Field Museum 18 Coming Events 19 Acknowledgements 20 List of Sponsors, Donors and New Members *************************************** <1> 24/04/95 ag508 AQUATIC SURVIVAL Bulletin of the Aquatic Conservation Network Volume 3, Number 3 - September 1994 Aquarists Dedicated to the Preservation of Aquatic Life ISSN 1188-553X (unformatted version) The Aquatic Conservation Network is a Canadian Registered Charity #0953471-52 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8 Tel. (613) 729-4670. Fax. (613) 729-5613. CompuServe 71022,3537 Internet rob@pinetree.org OR ag508@freenet.carleton.ca *********** Aquatic Conservation Network DIRECTORS Henrik Hornhaver Skovengen 151 Kokkedal DK-2980, Denmark Tel: (009 45) 42 24 97 29 Dennis Hough 3626 Glenwood Springs Dr., Kingwood, Texas 77345, USA Tel: (713) 360-9549 Fax: (713) 360-0855 CompuServe: 73652,27 Roger Langton (President) 556 W. Cedar Place Louisville, Colorado 80027, U.S.A. Tel: (303) 673-0673 Fax: (303) 673-0673 Paul Loiselle Aquarium for Wildlife Conservation Surf Ave. & West 8th Street Brooklyn, New York 11224, U.S.A. Tel: (718) 265-3406 Fax: (718) 265-3420 Shawn Prescott Red Sea Fish pHarm Ltd. 5 Harness Court, Apt. T-4 Baltimore, Maryland 21208, U.S.A. Tel: (410) 484-2670 Fax: (410) 484-2713 Patrick de Rham Montolivet 27 1006 Lausanne, Switzerland Tel: (41) 21-616 4976 Fax: (41) 21-616 5036 Mark Rosenqvist (Vice President) Aquatic Research Organisms P.O. Box 1271, One Lafayette Rd. Hampton, Hew Hampshire 03842 U.S.A. Tel: (800) 927-1650 OR (603) 926-1650 Fax: (603) 926-5278 GENERAL MANAGER Rob Huntley 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8 Tel: (613) 729-4670 Fax: (613) 729-5613 Internet: rob@pinetree.org OR ag508@freenet.carleton.ca CompuServe: 71022,3537 MEMBERSHIP Sally Van Camp 923 Wadsworth St. Syracuse, New York 13208, U.S.A. *********** AQUATIC SURVIVAL Bulletin of the Aquatic Conservation Network International Standard Serial Number - ISSN 1188-553X Published quarterly (March, June, September and December) by The Aquatic Conservation Network, Inc., 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8. Attn: Robert V. Huntley, Editor. Telephone: (613) 729-4670; Fax: (613) 729-5613; CompuServe: 71022,3537; Internet: rob@pinetree.org OR ag508@freenet.carleton.ca. Deadlines for submissions are the third Friday of the month preceding publication. Unless otherwise indicated, articles may be reprinted without permission provided that such use is not for financial gain and appropriate credit is given to the author and to Aquatic Survival. The views expressed in published material are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Aquatic Conservation Network. <2> 24/04/95 ag508 ANNOUNCEMENTS NEW ACN PUBLICATION Captive Breeding Guidelines ADVERTISING IN AQUATIC SURVIVAL The ACN will soon offer advertising space in "Aquatic Survival" If your company is interested in supporting the conservation work of the ACN in this way, please ask for information describing rates and policy. ACN & EMAIL You can send electronic mail to the ACN using one of the following addresses Internet: rob@pinetree.org OR ag508@freenet.carleton.ca CompuServe: 71022,3537 There are two sites where the ACN has electronic message areas and archive sites for back issues of Aquatic Survival and other documents: 1. National Capital Freenet Telnet Open: freenet.carleton.ca Login as: guest Type: go acn World Wide Web URL to http://www.ncf.carleton.ca/freeport/... ...social.services/eco/orgs/aquat-con/menu Direct dial (long distance rates apply) 2400 BAUD line: (613) 564-3600 Login as :guest; Type: go acn 14400 BAUD line: (613) 564-0808 Login as :guest; Type: go acn 2. CompuServe FISHNET Aquaria/Fish Forum (Library 12) as well as the Aquatic Conservation message board *********** JOIN NOW! Annual membership is $25.00 (Canadian or U.S.) Aquatic Conservation Network 540 Roosevelt Avenue Ottawa, Ontario Canada K2A 1Z8 Tel: (613) 729-4670 Fax: (613) 729-5613 CompuServe: 71022,3537 Internet: rob@pinetree.org OR ag508@freenet.carleton.ca *********** "INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF AQUARIST ORGANIZATIONS" BE INCLUDED IN THE NEXT EDITION! The Aquatic Conservation Network will publish the second editon for 1994/95 - Assisted by financial contributions form Aquarium Products, Ekk Will Waterlife Resources, Novalek, Inc., Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. and Wardley Corporation; - Covers more than 1,000 organizations in 32 countries; - Include your aquarium society at no charge; - Annual update forms will be sent to listed societies in October. If your club does not receive a form, it is not yet listed; - Please send details by December 16, 1994 including society name, address, contact person, telephone, fax, email, and newsletter name to: Aquatic Conservation Network 540 Roosevelt Avenue Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8 Fax:(613) 729-5613 Email: ag508@freenet.carleton.ca ********* ACN Announcements A. Finance Committee - Membership Committee The ACN Board of Directors has decided to established two committees to: a) secure financial support for ACN programs, and b) strengthen membership recruitment initiatives. If you have an interest in participating in either the Finance Committee or the Membership Committee, please contact Rob Huntley (ACN main address). C. Recent ACN News Releases For your information, the following are titles of recent ACN news releases and advertisements. These were distributed to specific mailing lists. If you would like a copy, either printed or electronic version, please send a request. October 1, 1994 International Directory of Aquarist Organizations - 2nd Edition is in the Works! October 4, 1994 Aquatic Conservation Network on World Wide Web (distributed electronically with essentially the same information as given in the box on page 20) <3> 24/04/95 ag508 THE CONSERVATION OF WEST AFRICAN FRESH AND BRACKISH WATER FISH AND FISHERIES by Gordon McGregor Reid Fresh and brackish water fishes have always been of major nutritional and economic importance in West Africa. A rural life- style which, depending on the seasons, involves farming, hunting and fishing has long been widespread. Prior to 1500, fishing and salt making were among the main activities which supported ethnic communities in the Guinean coastal zone which is characterised by river estuaries, brackish lagoons and mangrove swamps (Jones, 1963; Northrop, 1978). At that time inland and coastal artisinal fisheries were largely confined to shallow, fairly sheltered waters, because sufficient fish could be captured there using traditional nets, spears, hooks, fences, basket-traps and other devices; and because of the limited open water or sea-going capabilities of the wooden dug-out canoes which were used as fishing craft. Since at least the 17th century there has been a strong West African tradition of specialised fishing tribes, such as the Efik and the Aro, who often migrate long distances to exploit the best fishing grounds (Partridge, 1905; Forde, 1968). Temporary encampments of transhumant fishermen are still a familiar sight on dry season islands of sand throughout the vast Niger-Benue-Chad River system, which spans West Africa and which drains the sahelian and savanna zones (Welcomme, 1986); and at least 77 ethnic groups are thought to fish in this region (A. Neiland, pers. comm). The intrusion of transhumant fishermen into areas settled by other tribes has been, and sometimes still is, a source of friction (Oldfield, 1837; Reid, 1989). Clearly, such conflicts will be exacerbated if there are insufficient fishes and shellfishes (molluscs, crustaceans) for consumption. There is some historical evidence (albeit limited) that by the late 19th century the supply of fish and other animals could not always meet with demand in those areas where human populations were becoming concentrated. For example, Smith (1873) remarked on the difficulties in obtaining fish and other natural history specimens from 'Old Calabar' (an important regional centre in southern Nigeria until about 1906, when Lagos superceded it) because everything that was captured was quickly eaten, leaving no surplus to trade. Certainly, demand had far outstripped supply in that region by the early 20th century (Jeffreys, 1952) and other adverse ecological impacts from the burgeoning human population were already becoming evident (Teugels, Reid & King, 1992). These early difficulties may have related not so much to an absolute scarcity of fishes but, rather, to natural seasonal shortages (it is always more difficult to capture fishes in the wet season when water levels are high and the fish populations dispersed) and to an arguable inefficiency in traditional capture methods. Nevertheless, local legislation in the form of a Wild Animals, Birds and Fish Proclamation was instituted in southern Nigeria in 1901 to control hunting and fishing and to prevent over exploitation (Partridge, 1905). The Proclamation was modelled on laws enacted in Britain and continental Europe in response to problems in fisheries management and environmental conservation which manifested themselves in the wake of the industrial revolution. Particular sections of the Proclamation required that: - the capture of the adults of certain species, their young or eggs was prohibited; - spawning beds should not be destroyed or interfered with; - the types of net and the mesh size of nets should be controlled and so, too, fishing fences and traps; - the use of poisons and explosives in fishing be prohibited; - the collection of specimens for scientific purposes should only be under license; and that - special reserve areas should be established (Teugels, Reid & King, 1992). Despite this prescient administrative and documentary concern with fisheries conservation at the turn of the century, there is no real historic evidence that appropriate levels of control were achieved in reality or that potentially deleterious practices were curbed. For example, widely employed then, as now, were fish poisons derived locally from various kinds of plants including Strychnos and which, although evidently biodegradable, can decimate the aquatic biota; and fish fences which sometimes block the entire river and which can prevent migrations for foraging and breeding (Partridge, 1905; Reid, 1989). There was, in addition, indiscriminate bank-to-bank seine netting then, as now, and the entrapment of innumerable small and juvenile fishes (which are much favoured food throughout West Africa). Modern Conservation Problem Uncontrolled traditional fishing practices both historical and recent have undoubtedly had an impact on the present diversity, abundance and geographical distribution of particular fish species, although it would be difficult or impossible to precisely quantify this impact. The ever increasing human population in West Africa has produced a greater demand for food and a corresponding increase in fishing pressure. Artisinal methods, while still in use, have sometimes been superceded by 'more effective' techniques: such as the introduction of the nylon gill net (which is associated with a boom and then a slump in the fisheries of Lake Chad, see below); and the substitution of natural fish poisons with lethal and persistent synthetic agrochemicals such as Gammalin 20 (an organochlorine insecticide). It would, however, be unfair to place on local fishermen the entire blame for noticeable contemporary declines in the fisheries. The River Benue, a major tributary of the Niger in Nigeria and Cameroon, serves as a striking example of a dramatic multi-factor induced decline in a once large, thriving and biodiverse fishery. About 80 years ago the Benue valley was in a more-or-less pristine ecological state and it had abundant wildlife (Bunsuru, 1959). A detailed survey of the fishes conducted mainly between 1969 and 1974 demonstrated that in the past it supported at least 128 species in 64 genera, 28 families and 11 orders (Reid & Sydenham, 1979). Although there was an active artisinal fishery in operation at that time, there were no signs that this was having an adverse impact on fish populations, nor were there any indications of a general deterioration of the aquatic environment. However, by 1988 the fisheries had completely changed (Neiland _et al_, 1990). Tilapiine cichlids and clariid catfishes became the overwhelmingly dominant catch (respectively 34% and 14% of total landings in the markets studied) and fish species from several major groups which were formerly abundant showed a greatly reduced market presence, including characoids, distichodontids, cyprinids, schilbeids and mochocids. Indeed, an exceedingly familiar species the African pike (_Hepsetus odoe_) is now commercially extinct in the region. While the complex variables involving exploitation patterns, market economics, environmental changes and fishery production are incompletely understood, Neiland _et al_, (1990) suggest that a combination of several factors may account for the observed changes. Firstly, the 'natural' Sahelian drought conditions evident throughout the nineteen seventies and 'eighties (J.M.H & B.H., 1986) have limited the extent and duration of the wet-season floodplain or 'wetlands', critical to many fish species as spawning, nursery and feeding grounds, and which are otherwise biologically and agriculturally important (Dugan, 1990; Acreman, 1993). Secondly, this effect has been reinforced by a dam constructed in 1986 on the Benue at Lagdo, Cameroon, which has reduced peak riverine discharges (measured at Yola, Nigeria) from 3330 to 1870 m3s-1, i.e. by a remarkable 44 per cent. In the absence of fish 'ladders', damming prevents migrations and results in the gross modification of aquatic habitats or their complete obliteration. It is argued by Neiland _et al_. (1990) that highly adaptable fishes such as _Tilapia_ (_sensu lato_) and catfish of the genus _Clarias_, which are not entirely dependent on flood plain inundations for feeding and reproduction can prosper in these changed hydrological conditions at the expense of the other taxa. Thirdly, over-exploitation of the fisheries, using non-selective nylon gill nets is thought to have compounded the problem. Certainly, drought coupled with over fishing is thought to largely account for the increasing domination of '_Tilapia_' in the central delta of the upper Niger River (Welcomme, 1987) and of '_Tilapia_' and _Clarias_ in Lake Chad (Bukar & Gubio, 1985); in the latter case with a corresponding decline in the once famous Nile perch or _giwan ruwa_ (_Lates niloticus_) fishery. Last, human population growth means that the market demand for fish is now so high that fishermen are guaranteed to sell their entire catch, irrespective of species composition or the size of individual fishes. There are many other pervasive human influences or modern threats to fish and fisheries documented by Reid (1991) for the Guinean rainforest of West Africa (but widespread beyond that region - Wheeler, 1990), including: - irrigation schemes with similar, if smaller scale, impacts to dams and which are also detrimental to many fish populations through evaporation-increased salinity; - deforestation induced physical and chemical changes within watersheds and an associated reduction in the food supply of terrestrial insects and seeds to fishes and other aquatic life; - hoofstock (cattle, sheep and goats) which constantly disturb aquatic habitats and render them too turbid and, through deposition of the dung, too organically rich for some fishes; - adverse ecological interactions from introduced alien species, sometimes for fisheries purposes (including fishes introduced for recreational purposes and escapees from piscicultural establishments, and the accidental spread of 'water weeds'); - watercourse pollution both agricultural and urban (including agrochemicals, sewerage and ichthyotoxic chemicals used in the control of waterborne diseases such as schistosomiasis and malaria); and - in the case of estuaries and mangrove swamps, marine pollution (including oils and tars discharged from ships and exudates from oil drilling operations which suffocate aquatic life - Ibiele _et al_, 1983). What Conservation Action is Necessary? Clearly in developing an overall aquatic conservation strategy for West Africa there is a need to reconcile different and sometimes conflicting interests. Understandably the sustainability of fisheries has, until now, been the main factor to be balanced against the need for human progress and development within river basins and the various, often competing demands on water supplies. It is crucial that the process of development does not destroy the huge economic and nutritional resource which West African waters provide. Equally, a case has been made for considering particular species of fish and particular aquatic communities and habitats not simply as a fishery resource but also as a wildlife heritage (Reid, 1991). It is not always entirely clear which part of that heritage has most conservational merit or the highest priority. The systematic lists for many West African waters are far from complete. Overall, in excess of 558 species (representing 180 genera and 61 families) are already known, almost twice as many as were recorded in 1923 (Leveque _et al_,. 1991, 1992). But many species remain taxonomically obscure and new species of fish are discovered and scientifically described every year (Teugels, Reid & King, 1992). Also, there has been recent major advances throughout the region in our knowledge of the general biology, ecology and geographical range of many species (Leveque _et al_., 1988 and Teugels _et al_., work in progress) and range extensions of hundreds or even thousands of kilometres are commonly reported. It would be a tragedy if fishes, whether rare or common, commercial or non commercial, were lost from the West African fauna before they had been properly documented and studied. There are cases for particular conservation concern, where fishes are endemic to highly restricted geographical areas and occur only in relatively small numbers. For example, 11 different kinds of tilapiine cichlid constitute a 'species flock' unique to Barombi Mbo, a crater lake in Cameroon which is only 2.5 km in diameter and subject to ever- increasing environmental threats (Reid, 1989, 1990). While this site is widely recognised as being of national and international biological importance (particularly to students of evolution), worryingly, it has so far failed to gain statutory or other necessary forms of protection. It is vital that species habitats such as this gain recognition as national nature reserves or even world heritage sites. The new IUCN/SSC Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN, 1994) represents one official international form of recognition for conservationally sensitive species of fishes. However, while the rare cichlids of Barombi Mbo are included _en bloc_ in the list, many other threatened fish species from West Africa are not included. Clearly, the list now merits a review, as do proposed new criteria for entry to the list (Mace, 1992). A revised inventory should serve, in part, as a basis for the IUCN/SSC Global Action Plan for Freshwater Fishes, currently under development by Dr. Simon Mickleburgh of the Fauna and Flora Preservation Society and which will include a West African component. The effective implementation of the Action Plan will surely depend on adequate resourcing and fully integrated conservation efforts both on site (_in situ_) and off-site (_ex situ_). These should variously involve the local community and wildlife conservation authorities (local, national and often international) together with specialists within the biological community (e.g. taxonomists, ecologists, geneticists, cryobiologists, aquarium curators and educators) and within the commercial sector (e.g. fisheries managers, fish farmers, fish exporters and representatives of the aquarium hobbyist industry). Other promising new conservation initiatives being organised in parallel with the Action Plan include, for example, the initiation of the IUCN Sahelian Rivers and Floodplain Task Force (Acreman, 1993). Certainly, it is important to develop such practical strategies now before the existing conservation problems become more serious and widespread. The demands of a rapidly growing human population and the accelerating pace of development in West Africa will inevitably place increasingly severe pressure on aquatic ecosystems and on the survival of the fish life which depends on them. References Acreman, M. 1993. Initiation of the IUCN Sahelian Rivers and Floodplain Taskforce. _IUCN Wetlands Programme Newsletter_, No. 8 (November):27. Bukar, T.A. & A.K. Gubio. 1985. The decline of the commercially important species of fish and predominance of _Clarias lazera_ in Lake Chad. A paper presented at the Annual Conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Port Harcourt, November 1985. Dugan, P.J. (ed). 1990. _Wetland conservation. A review of current issues and action required_. Gland, Switzerland. IUCN, pp.96. Forde, D. (ed). 1968. _Efik Traders of Old Calabar_. Dawsons for the International African Institute, London (2nd edn), pp.165. Ibiele, D.D., C.B. Powell, M. Isoun, M.D. Selena, P.H. Shou & M. Murday. 1983. Establishment of baseline data for complete monitoring of petroleum related aquatic pollution in Nigeria. In: _The Petroleum Industry and the Nigerian Environment_. Proceedings of the 1983 International Seminar, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. IUCN. 1994. _The IUCN Red List of Threatened Animals_. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge U.K. International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. Jeffreys, M.D.W. 1952. Cross River prawn and shrimp fishing. _Niger Fld._, 135-140. Jones, G.I. 1963. _The trading states of the oil rivers. A study of political development in eastern Nigeria_. Oxford University Press for the International African Institute, London, pp. 262. J.M.H. & B.H. 1986. Drought in the Sahel and northern Nigeria. Report on the U.K. Branch Symposium at University College, London, April 1986. _Niger Fld._, 51, 53-56. Leveque, C., M. Bruton, & G.W. Sentongo. 1988. Biology et ecologie des poissons d'eau douce Africains. _Collection Travaux et Documents_, No. 216, ORSTOM, Paris, pp.508. Leveque, C., D. Paugy & G.G. Teugels (eds). 1990. Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumatres d'Afrique de l'Ouest. _Collection Faune Tropicale_ (28) 1 MRAC, Tervuren and ORSTOM, Paris, pp.384. Leveque, C., D. Paugy & G.G. Teugels (eds). 1992. Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumetres d'Afrique de l'Ouest. _Collection Faune Tropicale_ (28) 2 MRAC, Tervuren and ORSTOM, Paris, pp.518. Mace, G. 1992. The development of new criteria for listing species on the IUCN Red List. _Species_, No. 19 (December, 1992): 16-22. Neiland, A.E., J.P. Goddard & G. McG. Reid. 1990. The impact of damming, drought and over-exploitation on the conservation of marketable fish stocks of the River Benue, Nigeria. _J. Fish Biol_., 37 (Supplement A), 203-205. Northrup, D. 1978. _Trade without rulers. Pre-colonial economic development in south-eastern Nigeria_. Clarendon Press, Oxford. pp.269. Oldfield, R.K. 1837. A brief account of an ascent of the Old Calabar River in 1836. _J. Roy. Geogr. Soc._, 1837, 7, 195-198. Partridge, C. 1905. _Cross River Natives_. Hutchinson & Co., London, pp.332. Reid, G. McG. & H. Sydenham. 1979. A checklist of Lower Benue River fishes and an ichthyogeographical review of the Benue River (West Africa). _J. Nat. Hist._, 13(1), 41-67. Reid, G. McG. 1989. _The living waters of Korup rainforest_. A hydrobiological survey report with emphasis on fish and fisheries. WWF Report No. 3206/A8:1, pp.72. Reid, G. McG. 1990. Threatened fishes of Barombi Mbo: a crater lake in Cameroon. _J. Fish. Biol._, 37 (Supplement A), 209-211. Reid, G. McG. 1991. Threatened rainforest cichlids of Lower Guinea, West Africa - a case for conservation. In Proceedings of the Fifth European Congress 'Biology of Cichlids', State University of Antwerp, January 1990. _Ann. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. (Sci. Zool.)_, 263, 109-119. Smith, J.A. 1873. Notice of new fishes from West Africa: (1) _Ophiocephalus obscurus_ Gunther (2) _Synodontis robbianus_, nov. spec. mihi. _Proc. Roy. Soc. Edinb._, 1872-1873, 89-95. Teugels, G.G., G. Mcg. Reid, & R.P. King. 1992. Fishes of the Cross River basin (Cameroon-Nigeria): taxonomy, zoogeography, ecology and conservation. _Ann. Mus. Roy. Afr. Centr. (Sci. Zool.)_, 266, pp.132. Welcomme, R.L. 1986. The Niger River system. In _The Ecology of River Systems_ (Davies, B.R. and K.F. Walker (eds)), pp.9-48. Dordecht: Dr. W. Junk. Welcomme, R.L. 1987. The effects of the Sahelian drought on the fishery of the central delta of the Niger River. _Aquaculture and Fisheries Management_, 17, 147-154. Wheeler, A. (ed). 1990. The Biology and Conservation of Rare Fish. _Journal of Fish Biology_, 37 (Suppl. A), 1-271. Dr. Gordon McGregor Reid is the Curator in Chief, North of England Zoological Society, Chester Zoo, Chester, U.K. CH2 1LH. (This article appeared in the Proceedings of a Biennial Symposium of the Nigerian Field Society (UK Branch) in association with WWF (UK), held at the Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew on Saturday 18th September 1993 (NFS (UK) Occasional Paper No. 1) and is reprinted with permission of both the author and the publication editor.) <4> 24/04/95 ag508 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE It is a pleasure to announce that the ACN Board of Directors has approved an Affiliate Club Program. This effort is designed to encourage local and national aquarium societies to include conservation as an important part of their organization's goals. Elsewhere in this issue of _Aquatic Survival_ you will find a list of goals that affiliate aquarium societies agree to work toward. It is not necessary for a group to immediately implement all of the goals. By joining the Affiliate Club Program, members agree to discuss the goals and move in the direction of making them part of their approach to keeping fish. Perhaps the most controversial goal in the Affiliate Club Program is the request that aquarists bred fish in a manner that will "maintain the characteristics of the species as found in nature." They are asked to "avoid breeding for distortions in color, shape, fin size, etc." Why? Offspring that come from intensive inbreeding or are the result of hybridization are no longer of use in conservation programs. Examples of this type of breeding can be found in some strains of livebearers and discus and, admittedly, they are very popular among hobbyists. Some local and national clubs have specialized in this type of genetic manipulation and they may find it difficult or impossible to conform to this goal. The well-known German discus breeder, Dr. Eduard Schmidt-Focke, is now urging discus breeders to stop breeding for color variations by crossing geographically distinct populations and return to the maintenance of populations as found in nature. He reasons that breeding in that manner often weakens the fish and makes it more difficult or impossible to locate pure stock when conservation goals become paramount. Although keeping fish pure may eliminate some of the interesting specimens currently available and may reduce economic gains, it is essential to have pure captive bred populations when a species becomes extinct in nature if there is to be any hope of returning them to their natural geographical range. Nobody said that making the transition from hobbyist to conservation aquarist would not be without controversy. Please give it some thought and discuss it among your club members. The Board of Trustees has authorized the formation of two new committees: the ACN Membership Committee and the ACN Finance Committee. The former will be concerned with developing ways to increase ACN membership and the latter will devise fund raising activities to support ACN conservation programs. If you have an interest in working with one of these new committees, please write to Rob Huntley, our General Manager, and let him know of your willingness to serve. Roger Langton <5> 24/04/95 ag508 LETTERS Madtom Catfishes Conservation Fisheries, Inc. would like to issue a request for information to members of the Aquatic Conservation Network. We are looking for persons with any experience in spawning of madtom catfishes (_Noturus spp._) in aquaria. C.F.I. is currently involved in the captive propagation of several endangered and threatened North American fishes for reintroduction into suitable habitat within their historic range. Two species we are currently working with are the smoky madtom (_Noturus baileyi_) and the yellowfin madtom (_N. flavipinnis_). We are able to culture both madtom species from eggs removed from the stream in which they occur. Young madtoms produced in this manner are used in a reintroduction effort aimed at reestablishing a viable population in areas where they have been extirpated. Although we were able to captively rear these young, we would like to be able to spawn both species in captivity. We have been able to condition both species in our hatchery to a point where females ovulate and become fully gravid and males prepare nest sites. However, we have been unsuccessful at inducing spawning, and gravid females eventually reabsorb their eggs. What we are looking for are natural triggers or conditions that will induce these rare fishes to spawn in captivity. Any information that can be provided would be greatly appreciated and would be acknowledged in any publications or reports produced by C.F.I. Sincerely, J.R. Shute, Director Conservation Fisheries, Inc. 7108A Commercial Park Drive Knoxville, Tennessee 37918 U.S.A. Tel: (615) 922-3906 Fax: (615) 588-6616 Neotropical Fish Reproduction I am a fish biologist working in French Guiana (South America). I am studying the effects of a dam on the reproduction and early life history of several fish species in the Sinnamary River, the 5th more important river of this country. Among the more than 130 species we are currently dealing with, there are descriptions of the early stages for... almost none of them! I am planning to try to reproduce some species and I am looking for aquarists who have successfully bred one of the following species: Curimatidae _Chilodus zunevei_ _Curimata cyprinoides_ _Cyphocharax helleri_ _C. spirulus_ Anostomidae _Anostomus brevior_ _Leporinus friderici_ _L. gossei_ Lebiasinidae _Copella carsevennesis_ _Nannostomus beckfordi_ _Pyrrhulina filamentosa_ Characidae _Characidium fasciatum_ _Pristella maxillaris_ _Pseudopristella simulata_ _Astyanax bimaculatus_ _A. polylepis_ _Hemigrammus ocellifer_ _H. unilineatus_ _Hyphessobrycon sovichthys_ _Moenkhausia collettii_ _M. comma_ _M. hemigramoides_ _M. oligolepis_ And there are also numerous siluriformes, gymnotiformes, and some cichlids.... If you believe that you can help, please take the time to contact me. I urgently need some assistance! Dominique Ponton ORSTOM French Institute of Scientific Research for Development through Cooperation BP 165 97323 Cayenne cedex French Guiana FRANCE Tel. (594) 29 92 73 Fax. (594) 31 98 55 Email: ponton@cayenne.orstom.fr Red Sea Fish pHarm Several members have asked me to expound a little further on what we are doing in our breeding programme at Red Sea Fish pHarm and why. Red Sea is a company, who have built their business producing high technology products for the marine side of the aquarium industry. Shortly after we began in 1990, it became apparent that pressures for conservation, (with which the undersigned strongly agreed), would eventually bring about such restrictions, that one day, there would not even be a hobby allowed. In fact current legal controls in Germany as one example are such, that a very large number of species and invertebrates are not allowed to be legally sold. (large amounts however are "smuggled" across free borders of Europe, but from time to time, dealers are fined.) It became obvious, especially after the CITES convention a year ago in Kyoto, that it was only a matter of time, before these restrictions, would become so onerous, that companies like ours could even go out of business. The breeding of marine exotic fish, other than _Amphiprion_ (Clown) species, has had very little attention, and so consequently the amount of information available was scarce, and gave even less in terms of technology. The writer recruited a Dutch Marine Biologist, who had reproduced successfully _Calloplesiops altivelis_ (Marine Betta) and another Marine Biologist who had large amounts of experience rearing food fish especially Sea Bream and Sea Bass, and a small hatchery with some 80 aquaria, of various sizes, was implemented in 1993 at Eilat, Israel. (We have recently added a S. African Biologist to the team.) Whilst much of the technology must remain, for proprietary reasons, unrevealed, I can say that we have used protein skimming, of our own manufacture, which is world patented, along with extensive algae scrubbing techniques, to maintain water quality. This is critical always in larval rearing, but especially for us, as we are using our own Red Sea Coral Reef Salt, although we had originally hoped to use Red Sea water, but this proved impractical. I would mention that in our opinion it is absolutely uneconomic for large scale rearing to use an artificial salt, even though we manufacture our own. At the time of writing, we have spawned and reared the following species: _Amphiprion ocellaris_ _Amphiprion frenatus_ _Amphiprion clarkii_ _Chrysiptera hemicyaneus_ _Pseudochromis diadema_ _Pseudochromis fridmani_ _Pseudochromis flavivertex_ _Calloplesiops altevelis_ _Opisthognathus aurifrons_ _Synchiropus splendidus_ _Valenciennea sexguttata_ _Gobidon citrinus_ _Lysmata amboinensis_ - This last an exotic cleaner shrimp. Omitting the first 3 species, which several others have reared, all the others are to the best of our knowledge the first to be reared commercially. We had many problems with colouration in the first months, but have developed technology to overcome this, so that today, our Clowns for example are probably stronger in colour than the average found in nature. There are lots of problems in obtaining spawning, not to speak of spawning pairs, as there is little or no differentiation between the sexes in most of the species. Furthermore, the hardest has been finding suitable first foods, with the exception of the Clowns, which will take _Brachionus_ and then _Artemia_, nearly all other species will not do so, and it took us many months to overcome these problems. We are now confident that we can successfully breed not only the above species, but it is almost certain that in the coming 6 months, we will perfect the technology for at least another half dozen species. This coupled with the fact that we can reproduce at will at least 8 species of soft corals, means that we are actively looking for commercial partners to create a major production facility. As no one farm will be able to provide the hobby with its requirements, we are preparing to make technology transfer, in many parts of the world, during the next couple of years, and have had many interesting inquiries. We are looking at a potential site for the first farm in Eilat, Israel, where we have our factory, but we are also considering other options throughout the world. Obviously it must be in a tropical area, where one can get flowing, clean sea water, have at a close enough distance a major airport, as well as have infrastructure to support the scientific backup that is needed for such a venture. We also must get access to the riparian rights of a piece of licensed sea bed so that we can culture some of the sessile invertebrates, which today are a vital part of the hobby. We have spent on this R&D programme, in the last 15 months about $250,000 which is perhaps not a lot of money, but for a small startup company like Red Sea, with only 28 employees, it represents a major gamble. It has been exciting, fun, so far, with many heartaches. The hours as all of you know, are very long, and seven days a week, but the achievement to date is to us at least encouraging. Regards to you all, Shawn Prescott Red Sea Fish pHarm Ltd. Apt. T-4 5, Harness Court Baltimore, Maryland 21208 U.S.A. Tel: (410) 484-2670 Fax: (410) 484-2713 Fourth International Aquarium Congress - 1996 - Tokyo Sea Life Park The Adhoc Meeting held at the Third International Aquarium Congress hosted by the New England Aquarium, Boston in 1993, requested Tokyo Sea Life Park to host the next such congress. It is our great pleasure and honour to be able to inform you of our decision that Tokyo Sea Life Park will hold the Fourth International Aquarium Congress in 1996. At the same period of time, Tokyo Metropolitan Government under which Tokyo Sea Life Park is managed, is scheduled to hold "the World City Exposition Tokyo '96 - Urban Frontier" at the water- front area of Tokyo Bay. The Aquarium congress is placed as a participant conference in the Exposition. The main theme of the Exposition is the Environment and City. We believe the Aquarium Congress will be well matched to the Exposition. This letter is your first notice of the Fourth International Aquarium Congress. Currently we are planning the congress to be held June 23-27, 1996. Since the Congress in Tokyo is the first one to be held in the Asian Region, we expect a number of Asian colleagues to attend as well as those from Europe and America. It is now important for us to estimate the number of participants and plan for accommodations. Therefore, in addition to your response, we need the names and addresses of your national and international colleagues involved in aquariums or related services that you think may be interested. Sincerely, Yoshitaka Abe Director, Tokyo Sea Life Park Fourth International Aquarium Congress 6-2-3 Rinkai-Cho, Edogawa-Ku, Tokyo 132, Japan Tel: 03-3869-5152 Fax: 03-3869-5155 [This request anticipated replies by August, 1994. However, this has been the first opportunity to publish the letter which was received in July. rh] <6> 24/04/95 ag508 THE STRADDLING STOCKS ON CANADA'S ATLANTIC COAST by Earl Wiseman (Presentation made on Oceans Day (June 8, 1994) at the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada) There are many issues to consider when one thinks of the world's oceans. A number of important considerations will be discussed here to-day. The conservation and management of fish stocks is not always high on many peoples' agendas. I will focus today on straddling stocks on Canada's Atlantic coast. These are fish stocks whose migratory range straddles the 200-mile limit. Conserving these resources is especially difficult. It combines all the problems relating to any renewable resource ... science, approach to management and control of harvesting ... with the complexities of multilateral decision-making and flag-state enforcement. I will highlight the recent steps taken by the government of Canada against flag-of-convenience vessels, and I will conclude with a few comments on domestic Canadian fisheries management. For centuries, generation after generation of fishermen have made a hard living, but a good life, from the fishery for cod and flounder (flatfish) on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Now all of that is threatened. Today, we confront that grim question, "Will the resource survive?" Environmental conditions seem to be pushing down these fish stocks. There are fewer young fish. They are growing more slowly. They are taking longer to mature. More are dying of natural causes. This is happening today. But it is only part of the reason why we face a resource crisis. In the 1980's, there was massive, destructive overfishing of cod and flounder on the Nose and Tail of the Grand Banks, outside Canada's 200 mile zone. Since 1979 the fishery in this area has been regulated by an international organization, NAFO ... the Northwest Atlantic Fisheries Organization. NAFO sets Total Allowable Catches based on scientific advice. These are then divided into national quotas for NAFO member countries based on an agreed sharing formula. Canada fished within its quotas, as did fleets from most other countries. We did what we thought was right. We held down Canadian catches to what we believed were safe limits. From the mid-1980's to 1991 the European Community showed no such restraint. It set quotas for its fleets far higher than those set by NAFO, and then failed to control catches by its vessels. This heavy overfishing of cod and flounder stocks in the 1980's severely depleted these resources. Then in the 1990's, nature dealt these badly weakened stocks the heavy blows from which they are still reeling today. We cannot command nature ... we can only obey her. If we do not, then we face a terrible consequence ... the commercial extinction of once-massive fish stocks. This could happen to Northern (2J3KL) cod. It could happen to Southern Grand Banks (3NO) cod. And it could happen to the flounder stocks on the Grand Banks. Canada has stopped fishing these straddling stocks inside our 200- mile zone. Following Canada's lead, the member countries of NAFO have agreed to stop fishing these straddling stocks outside 200 miles. But to be effective, all vessels must comply with these conservation measures. While the level of overfishing for cod and flounder has decreased, the threat it poses to these straddling stocks has not. That threat has increased. It has increased because these stocks are poised on the brink. Continued overfishing could push them over the brink into the abyss of commercial extinction. In light of this, would anyone continue to fish these stocks and risk their complete destruction? The answer is yes. We have a recent example. In April, Canada seized the Kristina Logos, a vessel flying the flag of Panama, but registered in Canada. There were over 100 tonnes of cod, flounder and redfish on board. There were almost no fish that were large enough to reproduce. Instead there were hundreds of thousands of fish that were too small to do so. Many of them were no larger than your hand. The catch of the Kristina Logos was almost entirely juveniles. Why? Because there are almost no mature fish left to be caught. Because there is almost nothing left of these once-abundant straddling stocks except stray schools of juveniles. If these are caught, what then? The destruction of these resources would be complete. It was in response to this threat that on May 12 Parliament approved legislation authorizing conservation action by Canada outside 200 miles. The legislation states Canada's purpose, "to take urgent action necessary to prevent further destruction of [straddling] stocks and to permit their rebuilding, while continuing to seek effective international solutions". The legislation allows the government to prescribe the straddling stocks to be protected, the conservation measures to be enforced, and the classes of vessels against which enforcement action can be taken by Canada. On May 31, the government approved regulations prescribing these matters. The regulations were directed against stateless vessels and flag-of-convenience vessels. To the operators of these vessels, international conservation decisions mean nothing. The legislation and the regulations have begun to work. Stateless vessels and flag-of-convenience vessels were put on notice that they would be arrested if they continued to fish for straddling stocks. Rather than face arrest, the vessels fled. Some will criticize Canada for its actions. They question our commitment to international law. They should not. In bringing forward this legislation, ministers affirmed three fundamental commitments by the Government of Canada: - first, Canada is committed to the rule of international law; - second, Canada's goal remains effective international controls over high seas fishing; and - third, the Government of Canada will use the powers under this legislation only where other means to protect threatened straddling stocks have failed. Ministers emphasized that this third commitment is no less strong than the first two. The government has said it will use the powers under the new legislation where it has to ... and only where it has to. This legislation ... as the purpose clause indicates ... is an interim national measure to deal with an emergency, pending development of permanent international measures to effectively control high seas fisheries. Canada was compelled to act now out of necessity. If we had delayed further, it might have been too late. The great fisheries resources of the Grand Banks could be lost, perhaps for a generation, perhaps forever. Canada's efforts to protect threatened straddling stocks are continuing. They are continuing in NAFO. They are continuing at the UN conference on high seas fisheries. And they are continuing bilaterally. Canada has taken important steps toward achieving its goal of rebuilding these resources to their former abundance. We still have a long way to go. Canada is continuing its efforts to develop an effective international system for management of high seas fisheries in other areas as well ... On our Atlantic coast for tuna and swordfish through ICCAT, for salmon through NASCO ... and on our Pacific coast for halibut through the North Pacific Halibut Commission and for salmon through the North Pacific Anadromous Species Convention, and overall, we are continuing our efforts both at the United Nations and through the FAO. This is our approach internationally. Domestically, the government is committed to working towards ecosystems management and the precautionary approach. This is the direction of change. It will take time to give it full effect. Oceans Day arose from the efforts of NGO's at the UN Conference on Environment and Development. NGO's were the conscience of that conference. They contributed greatly to its success and the establishment of the UN Conference on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks which meets for its third session in August. NGO's contribute greatly to our awareness of the need to think ecologically in fisheries conservation and management. We need to advance that awareness domestically and internationally. Oceans Day is an important means for us all to do so. (Earl Wiseman is the Director, International Fisheries, Atlantic, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, 200 Kent Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) <7> 24/04/95 ag508 THE CARE AND BREEDING OF _PACHYPANCHAX OMALONOTUS_ by Roger Langton The first species chosen for an ACN captive breeding program is _Pachypanchax omalonotus_ (Dumeril, 1861), a Malagasy killifish. Eventually this species will become part of the Madagascar Project which is in the process of being organized as a cooperative effort between the ACN and the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). The founders used to initiate the program are offspring of _P. omalonotus_ collected by G. Eggers and W. Staeck in 1991. The collection site is on the island of Nosy Be just off the northwestern coast of Madagascar. This is the type locality of the species. Other populations can be found on the mainland adjacent to Nosy Be. The males of this population are interesting in that they show color variations within the same local population, dominated by either yellow-red or blue. The males grow up to 5" with the females being somewhat smaller. The colors are best seen from natural lighting that strikes the sides of the fish. This species is sometimes found with the spelling _P. homalonotus_ (Gunther, 1866) but the spelling should conform to that used in the original description (Dumeril, 1861), _P. omalonotus_. _Pachypanchax playfairii_ (Gunther, 1866), found on the Seychelle Islands, is a close relative to _P. omalonotus_ and the two species are sometimes confused with each other despite the differences in color patterns. Hybridization studies have not been carried out. It is important to avoid any contamination of the gene pool by introducing _P. playfairii_ into the breeding program. Six pairs of _P. omalonotus_ were obtained by the author from members of the American Killifish Association and from that organization's New & Rare Species Committee. Since these were obtained in 1992, it is reasonable to assume they are F1 from the wild fish. All of the founders contributed to the F2 generation which is currently in the process of being distributed to participating aquariums, zoos and conservation aquarists within the ACN. Without doubt a bottleneck effect has taken place and it is hoped that wild individuals will be introduced into the mix at some point in the near future. The stated goal of this program is to produce a viable captive breeding population of 300-500 individuals and managed in such a way as to maintain a high percentage of genetic diversity for at least 100 years. Mark Rosenqvist will head the program for the ACN. Julia McCormick, staff aquarist at the San Antonio Zoological Gardens & Aquarium, will be the Species Coordinator. Generally speaking, _P. omalonotus_ is an easy species to breed and maintain. A pair will thrive and breed in a 5« gallon tank as long as they are well fed and weekly water changes of 20-40% are made. A 10 gallon tank would be better if water changes are made less frequently. The fish are heavy eaters and readily consume dry, frozen and live foods. Polluted water will quickly lead to apathy, loss of appetite and outbreaks of "ich" and other diseases. A sponge filter, without gravel, works well and needs to be cleaned regularly. A temperature range from 68 to 80 degrees F is adequate for breeding. Temperatures in the lower range may extend the life of the species. Because these fish are jumpers it is important to keep a tight cover on the aquarium. The fish readily lay eggs in synthetic mops, made of acrylic yarn and boiled before use. The mops lay on the bottom of the tank and do not have to be suspended by a cork. The eggs can be harvested daily and placed in petri dishes that are properly labelled in order to keep track of which pair produced the eggs. The eggs hatch in 10-14 days, depending upon temperature. An alternative breeding method would be to place a pair in a tank with a gravel bottom, with adequate hiding places for the female, and remove the pair after two weeks. In most cases, fry will appear shortly afterwards and can be reared in the hatching-tanks for a few weeks. Free swimming fry will immediately consume newly hatched brine shrimp and grow steadily, reaching sexual maturity in 4-5 months. The author keeps his fish in soft, slightly alkaline (pH 7.2) water with a temperature range from 68-72 degrees F. The pH of the water is not critical but those in the conservation program will be asked to conform to the same water conditions as found in nature; this data is not available at the moment. Based upon the authors experience, males, generally, are more aggressive eaters than females. While the female is most often found hiding in the spawning material, the male swims in open water. At feeding time the male will often consume all or most of the food before the female comes out to eat. It is important to watch this carefully and make sure the female is well fed in order to produce eggs and insure maximum growth. The male can be very aggressive toward unresponsive females which can lead to the female's death. It is not unusual to see the male far outdistance the female in size due to this behavior. Once a breeding pair is established, it is best not to introduce another female into the mix without first making some modification of the aquatic environment. The newly introduced female, regardless of size, is most likely to be relentlessly pursued, injured and even killed by the male; although occasionally they adjust quickly and live peacefully together without modifying the tank set up. If it is desirable to place a new female into the breeding program, it is advisable to place the new pair in a tank environment different from the one found in the established male's breeding tank. This can be accomplished by either significantly changing the environment of the original tank (rearranging mops, filters, etc.) or by setting up a new one. Since the new surroundings will be unfamiliar to both animals there is less tendency to defend territory and the pair will usually work out a relationship that allows for successful breeding. When setting up initial breeding pairs, it is important to take time to observe their behaviour and make sure the male is not being overly aggressive toward the female. A torn caudal fin is usually the first sign of trouble and the female should be separated and given time to recover. In conservation programs, every loss could have serious consequences for the long-term survival of a species. It will take several months before enough specimens of _P. omalonotus_ are available for all those who might wish to participate in the program. The first step is to purchase a copy of the ACN _Captive Breeding Guidelines_ and make sure you are willing to follow the standard practices as outlined. If you wish to participate, fill out the questionnaire and return it to Mark Rosenqvist. The _Guidelines_ are available for $12 from our General Manager, Rob Huntley. (Roger Langton can be contacted at 556 W. Cedar Place, Louisville, Colorado 80027, U.S.A. Tel: (303) 673-0673; Fax: (303) 673-0673; Internet: RWLACN@aol.com) <8> 24/04/95 ag508 AN INTRODUCTION TO COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT - NEW BOOK Authors : Timothy Beatley, David J. Brower and Anna K. Schwab Coastal areas include tremendously sensitive ecosystems, yet at the same time provide important recreational, aesthetic, and economic benefits to humans. Future growth and development pressures will continue to increase as more and more Americans migrate toward the edges of the country. Without proper management, the very attributes that make coasts attractive could be destroyed. This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject of coastal zone management. The authors review the existing management framework at the federal, state, and local level, describing cornerstone federal programs and innovative and leading state, regional, and special area programs. Throughout, they focus on: - coastal ecology and the physical attributes of the coastal zone; - population trends and growth pressures confronting coastal areas; - policy issues and conflicts facing those in coastal management. In addition, the authors examine key elements of successful coastal management, as they identify deficiencies in current efforts as well as methods for addressing those deficiencies. "An Introduction to Coastal Zone Management" provides a firm understanding of management approaches and strategies in use around the country, focusing on those that have proven most effective. Timothy Beatley is chair of the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning at the University of Virginia. David J. Browser is research professor of land use and environmental planning at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. Anna K. Schwab is research associate at the Center for Urban and Regional Studies of the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. The 200 page book was published in July, 1994 and is available in hardcover (US $49 - ISBN 1-55963-280-1) or paperback (US $29.95 - ISBN 1-55963-281-X). For information contact Island Press, 1718 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20009. Tel: (202) 232-7933; Fax: (202) 234-1328. (Source: Island Press publicity announcement) <9> 24/04/95 ag508 CONSERVATION CONSTRAINTS AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY by Rob Huntley (A brief statement made to the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and the International Committee for Living Aquatic Resource Management (ICLARM) on September 27, 1994.) I have a broad interest in aquaculture. I have been an advocate of aquaculture for some time: in University; while working with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources; and during my time with Fisheries and Oceans, Canada. Today I am wearing the hat of a conservationist, representing the Aquatic Conservation Network, an organization which is building bridges between the amateur aquarist community and the scientific community, to further the conservation work of non-professional aquarists. I would like to serve a reminder of some of the "responsibilities" of the aquaculture industry, and some of the "opportunities" for the aquaculture industry, with respect to aquatic conservation. I don't imagine that any of these points are original, and I haven't come here today with any new data to highlight urgent scenarios. But I do think we tend to take these concerns too much for granted. We tend to assume that the "other person" is doing something to mitigate problem situations, and to develop needed research for what might be termed "conservation aquaculture". I think it wouldn't hurt to rethink how much we are, or are not, being proactive in these areas. What are some of the problems that aquaculture presents to the aquatic environment? - I think one of the biggest problems is "escapement" of non- native aquacultured organisms into habitat, with the consequences that these organisms predate upon, or compete with, native species which can lead to their ultimate disappearance; - A similar problem is the "intentional introduction" of species. In the extreme comes the scenario of "taking our culture with us" and stocking species such as bass and trout in countries where the species do not naturally exist. But intentional introductions also take place where the species is native to the country or region in question, and are introduced into unique habitats where the species would not be naturally found. In North America, state and provincial fish stocking programs are often carried out without sufficient consideration of what is "native" and whether we are promoting habitat alteration and elimination of other aquatic life. Many times we are guilty of catering to pressures of the sportsfisheries and we stock habitats with little thought to native fauna and flora; - "Pollution" from aquaculture sources has direct consequences on aquatic habitat: whether it be the introduction of metabolic waste, feed surplus or medicinal products into streams; or an increase in the biological oxygen demand, the pH or some other affect on water quality; or the elimination of benthic life in lakes and estuaries through inappropriate cage culture practices; - As we know, the risks of "disease" are greater with cultured organisms due to the high densities and stressful situations to which the animals might be exposed. Whereas natural processes may keep such health considerations at bay in the wild, a sudden influx of pathogens into a habitat as a consequence of aquaculture can have significant negative impact on the native fauna; - Another risk imposed on natural systems by aquaculture is the affect on the "genetic diversity" of wild populations. Sportfish stockings and the wild release of homing salmon, if mismanaged, can have detrimental affects on wild populations. These fishes may have been cultured from brood fish representing a very small gene pool. When released, they compete for limited natural resources, potentially displacing a significant portion of the wild gene pool. In the case of salmon, the impact may be that insufficient representation from a particular stock returns to spawn, and maintaining a viable wild population is no longer possible. What are some of the practical ways that aquaculture technology that could serve the conservation cause? - "Captive breeding" of endangered species is seen as a "stopgap" measure where there is no short term hope of sustaining wild populations. Captive Breeding is also seen as a method of potentially maintaining species in perpetuity in situations where there is perceived to be no hope for the recovery of wild populations or until cryopreservation techniques are more reliable. Long term captive maintenance is sometimes a contentious issue from ethical points of view, which I won't get into here. The fact remains that "aquaculture" is the key ingredient in carrying out captive breeding work. This _ex situ_ conservation can be considered from both the extensive and intensive aquaculture approach, in the country of origin of the species or in institutions and private aquaria in other parts of the world; - Aquaculture is also important for the "culture of food organisms", a field of research and technology which could contribute to the conservation of endangered species in captivity; - Aquaculture can also be important for "alleviating fishing pressure" on wild stocks, hopefully before conservation and endangerment become issues. This is true not only for food fisheries, but for the ornamental fisheries for the aquarium trade where already a significant proportion of tropical fish are farm raised. There may also be spinoff benefit to the commercial aquaculture industry from conservation aquaculture as we grapple with the husbandry and reproduction requirements of new species. The first line of defense for aquatic conservation must be habitat. So the points I raise with respect to captive breeding of endangered fishes take second place to the major issue of habitat conservation. The fact that aquaculture can contribute to captive breeding programmes should not be seen as "window dressing" to cover up the fact that some forms of aquaculture are responsible for degradation of aquatic habitats. I really think we need to be: - Increasing focus on the culture of native fishes in preference to the introduction of exotic species; - Paying stricter attention to long term genetic viability of aquacultured populations; - Working to minimize/eliminate escapement; - Working to minimize/eliminate pollution from aquaculture operations; and - Perform appropriate impact assessments before implementing stocking programs. (Rob Huntley is the General Manager of the Aquatic Conservation Network, 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8. Tel: (613) 729-4670; Fax: (613) 729-5613; Internet: ag508@freenet.carleton.ca OR rob@pinetree.org) <10> 24/04/95 ag508 THREATENED FISHES OF THE WORLD IN EBF This is an invitation to contribute to the "Threatened fishes of the world" series in the journal _Environmental Biology of Fishes_ (EBF). It is the policy of this international journal to fill up blank left-hand pages with interesting and useful one-page articles. In the past these articles have been on subjects such as "The art of fish illustrations" and "Fish imagery in art". The Editorial Committee of EBF has recently granted approval for the publication of a new series of one-pagers on "Threatened fishes of the world", of which Michael Bruton will be editor. It is anticipated that about 40 one-pagers will be published each year. Once over 200 have been published, they will be bound in book form with an Introduction, Discussion and Index and published in the hardcover series _Developments in the Environmental Biology of Fishes_. You are invited to contribute to this series, and in so doing to publicize the plight of threatened fishes worldwide. The series will cover marine, estuarine and freshwater fishes globally. The categories in which information is required are Scientific name, Family, Common names, Conservation status, Distribution, Abundance, Habitat & Ecology, Reproduction, Threats, Conservation Action, Conservation Recommendations, Important References. The length of the article must not exceed one printed page including the illustration. Dr. Bruton will ensure that the manuscript is in the correct format before it is sent to the journal editor, but contributors are asked to follow the style of EBF in the preparation of their manuscripts. It is essential that the illustration of the fish should be a high quality monochrome drawing or photograph. For the purposes of this series a "threatened fish" is defined as "a species whose status has deteriorated due to natural or unnatural causes to the point at which it may be considered as rare, vulnerable or endangered". Please consider producing several of these one-pagers on the threatened fish familiar to you. The preparation of each article will not take long, but the information will receive very wide exposure. For more information contact: M.N. Bruton, Director, JLB Smith Institute of Ichthyology, Private Bag 1015, Grahamstown, 6140, South Africa. Internet: I.deM@guppy.RU.AC.ZA (Irene de Moor). <11> 24/04/95 ag508 THE ACN AFFILIATE CLUB PROGRAM Include "conservation" in the aims of your aquarium society. On the opposite page are listed the goals that ACN affiliated aquarium societies agree to work toward. Please ask the Executive Committee of your club to consider this list and subsequently sign on as an ACN Affiliate Club. It is not necessary for a group to immediately implement all of the goals. By joining the ACN Affiliate Club Program societies agree to discuss the goals on an ongoing basis and continually strive to make them part of their membership's approach to keeping fish. ACN Affiliate Club Program Affiliate clubs agree to foster the following goals and attitudes: 1. Recognize that conservation efforts are sustained by a sincere respect for the living creatures that share the planet with us, combined with a desire to help preserve them. 2. Encourage long-term breeding practices that maintain species for several generations. Organize breeder award programs that reward the aquarist who keeps and breeds a species for many years. 3. Make every effort to ensure that wild fish are obtained legally and that purchasing or collecting wild fish does not put increased pressure on endangered fish in the wild. The purchase of captive-bred fish is encouraged. 4. Keep only those fish that can be cared for properly, giving each fish the space necessary to grow to its maximum size while maintaining optimum health and life span. 5. Learn how to breed fish in a manner that helps maintain genetic diversity and encourage club members to put this knowledge into practice in their breeding programs. 6. Breed fish in such a way that they maintain the characteristics of the species as found in nature and avoid breeding for distortions in color, shape, fin size etc. 7. Learn as much as possible about the natural habitat of the fish that interest club members and alert others when the fish are threatened with extinction. 8. Sponsor at least one conservation oriented program a year and, when possible, provide financial support for _in-situ_ or _ex- situ_ conservation programs. Move in the direction of developing more Conservation Aquarists in the club. 9. NEVER dispose of fish or other aquatic animals by "dumping" them into waters that are not part of their natural habitat. 10. When the club, or a group within the club, feels it is ready to commit to the discipline of long-term conservation efforts, volunteer to join one of the ACN captive breeding programs. The ........................................................... (Name of Society) agrees to foster the objectives of the ACN Affiliate Club Program. I am an official representative of this society: Name: ............................ Title: ........................ Signature: ....................... Date: ........................ The annual fee for affiliation is $10 (Canadaian or U.S. currency) per year plus the annual $25 ACN Membership Fee (Total = $35). Send applications for the ACN Affiliate Club Program to the Aquatic Conservation Network, 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8. <12> 24/04/95 ag508 "CAPTIVE BREEDING GUIDELINES" by Rob Huntley Well .... we've talked about it long enough, and finally the _Captive Breeding Guidelines_ are published. From the initial concept ... through unsuccessful attempts to obtain formal funding and deciding to do it on a shoestring ... through hashing out what would be in it, and who would do it, during sideline discussions at the Columbus Symposium (Fall '92 would you believe) ... through two draft versions with international, professional and amateur peer review ... right up to the final copy running through the laser printer and being rushed (??) off to the print shop - it has been a long haul. A major factor in this exercise, in my view, is stated in the Foreword: This document was developed by volunteer "Conservation Aquarists". From initial drafts, to peer review, to final editing, this document exemplifies the role volunteers can play in the conservation movement. Included among the contributors are amateur aquarists as well as professionals who earn their living in scientific institutions, zoos and public aquariums. All of these people have an underlying belief - there is a vital role for the non-scientist to play in the conservation of aquatic life. It is with this belief that these people have volunteered their time to this project; their contributions are gratefully acknowledged. Edited by Roger Langton and myself, the _Captive Breeding Guidelines_ are a significant attempt to put into writing what many have been suggesting, but few have suggested HOW ..... that is, involving amateur aquarists in professionally endorsed captive breeding programs. After a clear statement of ACN Conservation and Captive Breeding Goals, the five main sections lead the reader through the fundamentals of being conservation aquarists, and protocol for their participation in ACN programs: Section 1: In Defense of Captive Breeding of Endangered Fish - by Roger Langton Section 2: Breeding for Genetic Diversity - by Roger Langton Section 3: Environmental Control - by Mark Rosenqvist Section 4: Fish Health and Hygiene - by Peter Burgess Section 5: ACN Captive Breeding Programs - by Rob Huntley There are also a number of appendices, one of which lists sample questions from the ACN Questionnaire for Participants. The "actual" questionnaire provides spaces for responses. Spacing was left out of the publication to save trees, particularly since not all readers will require the form. Other appendices include a glossary of terms and abbreviations, certain AZA and IUCN policies and practices with respect to Captive Breeding and Studbooks and, of course, a copy of our new Affiliate Club Program application (also found on page 13 of this issue of _Aquatic Survival_). Printed format is simple, to keep the cost down. The cost is only $12 (Canadian or U.S.) and includes postage. Overseas airmail postage is being subsidized from the rest of sales. This provides for an element of fairness to all, since purchasing a copy is a prerequisite to participating in ACN Captive Breeding Programs. The _Captive Breeding Guidelines_ is perceived to be an evolving document. We are about to put theory into practice, and we are going to find that changes are required. There are already parts in the document identifying that further action and innovation is required. So I foresee that we will likely run to second, third and fourth editions as time moves on. I would like to thank the co-authors listed above for their participation, Phil Sponenberg for his input to my section, Russ McAndrews for his input during the early stages, Tim McCarthy for the cover illustration, and Roger Langton for his editorial and moral support all along. Also to thank are the reviewers who came through with invaluable advice along the way. They include: Chris Andrews, David Armitage, Peter Burgess, Henrik Hornhaver, Timothy Hovanec, Joe Norton, Gordon McGregor Reid, Allen Scher, Phil Sponenberg, and Doug Warmolts. To order a copy, a space is provided on the Publications Order Form found on page 23 - or simply send the $12 (Canadian or U.S.) and your address to Rob Huntley, Aquatic Conservation Network, 540 Roosevelt Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8. <13> 24/04/95 ag508 LAKE VICTORIA FISHERIES ORGANIZATION by Julian Hynes The Convention establishing the Lake Victoria Fisheries Organization was signed by representatives at ministerial level of fisheries agencies of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda at Kisumu, Kenya on 1 July 1994. The headquarters are to be based at the Uganda Fisheries Research Institute at Jinja, Uganda. The organization is expected to begin functioning in January 1995. The need for international cooperation was recognized as essential to ensure common approaches to the management of fisheries and other matters affecting the environment of the lake. The rapid proliferation of the Nile perch and Nile tilapia, the growth of high value fisheries based on these two introduced species, the disappearance of as many as half of the estimated 300 indigenous haplochromine cichlids of the lake, and the deterioration of water quality have all contributed to that recognition. The objectives of this permanent, inter-governmental institution are to foster cooperation among the three riparian states, harmonization of national measures for the sustainable utilization of the living resources of the lake, and to develop and adopt conservation and management measures. (For information contact Julian Hynes, 193 Concord Avenue, Toronto, Ontario M6H 2P2, Canada. Tel: (416) 531-8113; Fax: (416) 314-1165; Internet: hynes.julian@nricoa.mnr.gov.on.ca) <14> 24/04/95 ag508 SPECIES SURVIVAL PLANS: STRATEGIES FOR WILDLIFE CONSERVATION This 64 page softcover book is written by Robert J. Wiese and Michael Hutchins of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA). Written in easily understandable language, highlighted with full-color photography shot around the world, this publication takes you behind the scenes of North American zoos and aquariums and introduces you to the new roles these institutions are playing in wildlife and ecosystem conservation. To address the changing aspects of animal care and husbandry over the last decade, zoos and aquariums have expanded their role to include the conservation of selected species. _Species Survival Plans: Strategies for Wildlife Conservation_, provides an in-depth look at research, field studies and technology used by over 160 professionally managed zoos and aquariums in North America. This valuable resource will serve as an educational tool and unique reference for teachers, students, and visitors, as well as zoo and aquarium personnel. Copies can be ordered from AZA, Office of Membership Services, Oglebay Park, Wheeling, WV 26003-1896, U.S.A. The cost is $15 for AZA Members, $18 for Non-Members, and $17 Education/Libraries (U.S. funds). (Source: Advertisement in the AZA _Communique_) <15> 24/04/95 ag508 NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION - 1994 Condensed from a report by John Lundberg, NIA In June 1994, the Neotropical Ichthyological Association (NIA) met with the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in Los Angeles. Included among the NIA highlights were: - NIA slide show during a plenary session; - Symposium: Biodiversity of Neotropical Fishes; - Workshop: Documenting Neotropical Freshwater Fish Biodiversity; and - NIA Business meeting. Following are summaries of the Business Meeting and the Workshop. NIA Business Meeting The annual business was chaired by Antonio Machado-Allison, Universidad Central de Venezuela. Some highlights of this meeting include: - Inventory Program of USEPA: Frank McCormick spoke briefly on the guidelines and protocols recommended by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for resource monitoring. - NIA-NET: Paulo Petry, Oregon State University, spoke about the success and history of the NIA-NET (electronic communications) project to which there are currently about 120 subscribers. - Species Database Project: William Eschmeyer, California Academy of sciences, spoke about his ongoing species of fishes database project. Bill notes that to date more than 55,000 taxonomic records have been entered into the database, representing ca. 50,000 nominal species worldwide. - NEODAT: Paulo Buckup, Museu Nacional Rio de Janeiro, gave the current status of the NEODAT project which is the largest zoological database on the internet. - New Facilities: Luiz Malabarba, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande, indicated that the Museu de Ciencias, Pontifica Universidade Catolica do Rio Grande (MCP) is getting a new museum building and facilities which should be in place by 1996. The MCP is the third largest collection in Brasil, it should be computerized by this fall, and it has 4 curators of fishes. - _Clarias_ in Brasil: Paulo Petry informed NIA about the spread of _Clarias_ in Brasil as a result of aquaculture programs in NE Brasil. Recently, these catfish have spread to Rio de Janeiro and have already been caught in the Sao Francisco River in Minas Gerais. Rio Grande do Sul has prohibited introduction and farming of _Clarias_, and similar legislation is been prepared in Southern Mato Grosso. There are grave concerns about the effects of _Clarias_ entering into the Pantanal system and also the spread of catfish disease. Workshop: Documenting Neotropical Freshwater Fish Biodiversity The Neotropical Ichthyological Association sponsored a one-day workshop on the Documentation of Fish Biodiversity in the Neotropics. One interesting session of the workshop was coordinated by John Lundberg and dealt with Current Efforts and Approaches to Freshwater Field Inventories. This was structured as a series of reports and discussions on freshwater ichthyofaunal survey activities. Thirteen reports were presented and two others came by fax and email that described several projects ranging across the Neotropics from Mexico and Belize to Paraguay and Brazil. In general, reporters touched on location of projects, investigators and institutions, objectives, sampling design, collecting and preservation methods, data recording and computerization, and new technologies. So much interesting, diverse and useful information was presented at this workshop session that NIA is making an effort to obtain and distribute summaries of all reports. These will be posted to NIA-NET (NIA's electronic mailing list) and archived on the Internet Gopher at the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Paper copies of these can be mailed to anyone who does not have Internet access. All knowledge of Neotropical fish diversity ultimately depends on specimens collected or observed in the field. The NIA is interested in learning about what survey work is actively going on throughout the Neotropics. The specimen and environmental information that comes from inventory work is essential for systematics, ecology, morphology, fisheries and conservation biology. Many will benefit from being informed of projects that are yielding new specimens and data relevant to our particular research efforts. A general invitation is extended to everyone working in the field on Neotropical fishes to send the NIA brief summaries of their work. Information (and questions about the NIA and the annual meeting) can be sent to John Lundberg, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, 85721, U.S.A.; Fax: (602) 621-9190; Internet: dclade@ccit.arizona.edu. (Editor's Note: Accents were lost during email transmission) <16> 24/04/95 ag508 NOTEBOOK - Henrik Hornhaver is working on a thesis primarily based on morphological comparisons of otoliths of fishes from the order Cyprinodontiformes. He intends to examine as many species as possible. He requires wildcaught (and lab/aquarium bred) specimens (10 to 15 pairs preferably) from the following families: Aplocheilidae, Rivulidae, Profundulidae, Fundulidae, Valenciidae, Anablepidae, Poeciliidae, Goodeidae, and Cyprinodontidae. He requires the heads (or otoliths) labelled with sex, standard length and collection dates. The otoliths will be deposited at the Zoological Museum, University of Copenhagen after examination. Fossil material and names of any collections of Cyprinodontiformes otoliths are very welcome as well. Please contact him if interested in helping or co- working: Henrik Hornhaver, Skovengen 151, DK-2980 Kokkedal, Denmark. Tel: (45) 24 42 97 29; No fax; No email, yet! - A proposal for a new book titled _The Fishes of America_ was presented at the recent American Zoo and Aquarium Association meeting in Atlanta. The proposal is to compile a single comprehensive reference book/CD-ROM on all of the freshwater fishes of North America (excluding Mexico), combining a thorough literature review of all the latest information on biology, systematics, ecology, life history, distribution and status with up to date, technically accurate photographs of the approximately 830 species. The book would be co-produced by Wayne C. Starnes, Richard T. Bryant and Richard J. Lenz. (Wayne Starnes and Richard Bryant along with David Etnier have recently completed _The Fishes of Tennessee_). For more information about this initiative contact Richard T. Bryant, 957 Carter Drive, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30319, U.S.A. Tel: (404) 365-8563; Fax: (404) 365-8653. - The World Conservation Monitoring Centre, is currently compiling a table of national "Red Data Books" and "Red Lists" of animal and plant species threatened at the country level. WCMC is seeking details of "any" lists or books of nationally threatened species compiled in the past few years or still in preparation. Contact: Dr. Chris Magin, Species Unit, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, UK. Tel: +44 (0)223 277314; Fax: +44 (0)223 277316; Internet: chris.magin@wcmc.org.uk - The mission of the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC) is to provide information services that support the conservation and sustainable use of species and ecosystems, and to support others in the development of their own information management services. As part of its information service, WCMC has developed a World Wide Web Server on Internet, with the support of the European Union and the BT Community Support Programme (this can be accessed at URL: http://www.wcmc.org.uk). WCMC works in collaboration with a wide range of organizations, and is jointly managed by three of the foremost global agencies concerned with the environment and nature conservation: the World Conservation Union (IUCN), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). For information contact: Jeremy Harrison, Head of Information Services, World Conservation Monitoring Centre, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge CB3 0DL, U.K. Tel: +44 (1223) 277314; Fax: +44 (1223) 277136; email: jerry.harrison@wcmc.org.uk - Rodney Harper is working on a Special Issue of the Journal of the American Killifish Association concerning North American Killifish. He is looking for additional articles (between 700 and 1500 words) dealing with North American killifish, their maintenance, captive and natural ecology, or environmental concerns effecting native Cyprinodontids. If you would like to contribute, send a manuscript to Rodney W. Harper, 11450 Boe Road Ext., Grand Bay, Alabama 36541, U.S.A. Fax: (205) 865-6987; Email: RWHARPER@AOL.COM - Erle Noronha is beginning to organize a trip to Kenya, to take place sometime in the next two years, to collect fish from some of the alkaline lakes in Kenya and Tanzania. He plans to collect fish from L. Magadi and L. Natron and possibly L. Nakuru and other alkaline lakes. One goal is to set up colonies of both the L. Magadi and L. Natron cichlids. He hopes to coordinate his trip with anyone who may be collecting fish from L. Victoria or its satellite lakes. He is currently developing a funding proposal and would like to know of persons interested in the fish he brings back or in providing funding. Contact: Erle Rahaman-Noronha, Department of Zoology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 1V3. Internet: enoronha@uoguelph.ca - A Research Assistantship is available in temperate fish biodiversity conducting a field-based investigation of the effects of different land use practices on the diversity and abundance of fishes in the Southern Appalachian region. Responsibilities will include collection of fishes from stream and river habitats flowing through mature forests and agricultural lands, sorting and identification in the field and lab, data analysis, and writing. Field sites are in the Little Tennessee and French Broad River watersheds. Data will be integrated with related investigations of the effects of land cover types on flora and fauna, and of the socioeconomic impacts of land use and landscape change in the region. Anticipated funds will cover a two-year graduate research assistantship leading to at least a master's degree in Ecology. A starting date of Jan. 1, 1995 is projected. Candidates should send a C.V. (including GRE scores and GPA) and names of two references to Gene Helfman, Institute of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602., U.S.A. Tel: (706) 542-3346; Fax: (706) 542-3344; email: Helfman@zookeeper.zoo.uga.edu - Environmental groups in South America are organizing a series of meetings to debate official proposals for the Parana/Paraguay Hidrovia, an intra-continental waterway which would allow ocean going vessels and barge traffic to sail more than 2,000 miles into central Brazil. There is considerable concern as to the impacts of this project, particularly on the Pantanal region of Brazil, the world's largest wetlands area, a rich home of wildlife and waterfowl. Hidrovia will also impact Native populations and others, such as fisherfolk who depend on the rivers for survival. A meeting of NGOs from Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul was scheduled for September, and an international meeting will be held in Sao Paulo, Brazil, probably in November. These meetings are being coordinated by Instituto Centro de Vida in Cuiaba, Mato Grosso, Brazil (Tel: +55-65-627-1809; Fax: +55-65-627-3032). International Rivers Network (IRN), Environmental Defense Fund, and Bank Information Center have prepared a report, _Considering the Hidrovia_ which is available for $12 from IRN; the report is available in Spanish and Portuguese free of charge to southern NGOs. IRN's address is: 1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley California 94703. Glenn Switkes is coordinating the Hidrovia Project: Tel: (415) 243-4146; Fax: (415) 243-0661; email: glenirn@igc.apc.org - _The Fish Breeders' Exchange_ is a new monthly publication designed to provide a medium of exchange for all aquarium fish breeders - from the hobbyist, all the way to the professional. It has been established with a threefold purpose: to provide an exchange of information among breeders, facilitating improvements in breeding techniques and production; to provide breakthrough information on new, previously unbred captive species; and to provide education and encouragement to hobbyist breeders. Contact: David Dangler, Editor, The Fish Breeders' Exchange, P.O. Box 191154, Atlanta, Georgia 31119- 1154, U.S.A. <17> 24/04/95 ag508 NATURAL AND HUMAN-INDUCED CHANGE IN MADAGASCAR: AN INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM AT THE FIELD MUSEUM June 2 to 4, 1995 Tropical ecosystems - the world's richest in terms of biological diversity - are in danger around the world, but nowhere more critically than on Madagascar. Tropical faunas and floras are at ever-increasing risk here and elsewhere from expanding human populations and from economies that rely heavily on extraction and exportation of natural resources. But tropical islands appear especially vulnerable to human impacts; for example, native biotas of Hawaii and the West Indies virtually collapsed following human colonization. In each case, their unique yet fragile biotas disappeared so rapidly and completely that we have few clues about what happened and how such catastrophes might have been averted. The island of Madagascar still supports countless species of plants and animals found nowhere else. Yet environmental changes--over several time-scales and under both natural and human controls--have caused the extinction of many species, and even survivors are now at grave risk. To mitigate the calamitous extinction wave now underway in Madagascar and to better understand tropical endangerment generally, we must carefully examine the processes that have shaped the island's landscapes, ecosystems, and cultures, as well as biotic responses to such changes. To address this urgent complex of issues, The Field Museum will convene a three-day scientific meeting entitled "Natural and Human- Induced Change in Madagascar" on June 2-4, 1995 in Chicago. The inter-disciplinary program will be a complement to the symposium "Biogeography of Madagascar" to be held by the Societe de Biogeographie in Paris in September 1995. The Chicago meeting will consist of presentations to the general public, invited technical presentations, scientific workshops, and contributed poster presentations organized around geological, anthropological, biological, and resource management/conservation themes. Invited speakers will include leading French, Malagasy and American researchers. Interested parties are urged to contact the meeting's organizers for registration materials and/or additional information. B. D. Patterson Center for Evolutionary & Environmental Biology The Field Museum Chicago IL 60605-2496, U.S.A. Tel: (312) 922-9410 (ext. 468) Fax: (312) 663-5397 OR S. M. Goodman B.P. 738 WWF Aires Protegees Antananarivo (101) Madagascar Fax: 261-2-348-88 Internet: symposia@fmnh.org <18> 24/04/95 ag508 COMING EVENTS Salmon Ecosystem Restoration: Myth and Reality On Nov. 7-10, 1994, a 1994 Northeast Pacific Chinook and Coho Salmon Workshop entitled "Salmon Ecosystem Restoration: Myth and Reality" will be held in Eugene, Oregon, under the sponsorship of the Oregon Chapter and Western Division of the American Fisheries Society. Questions on the workshop should be directed to Jeff Dose, USDA Forest Service, Umpqua National Forest, P.O. Box 1008, Roseburg, Oregon 97470, U.S.A. Tel: (503) 672-6601; Fax: (503) 673-4017. CITES - 9th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties The Office of the U.S. Management Authority has informed the CITES Secretariat that COP9 is scheduled to take place at Fort Lauderdale, Florida, November 7 to 18, 1994. For more information contact CITES Secretariat, United Nations Environment Programme, 15, chemin des Anemones, Case postale 456, CH-1219 Chatelaine, Geneve, Switzerland. Tel: 41 22 979 9111, Fax: 41 22 797 3417. Desert Fishes Council 26th Annual Meeting The Desert Fishes Council, an international group of more than 500 biologists and ecologists interested in conservation, evolution, and ecology of desert fishes and their habitats, will hold its 26th annual meeting at National Park Service Headquarters. Furnace Creek, Death Valley National Monument, California on November 17 to 20, 1994. The traditional geographic focus of the group has been deserts of southwestern U.S. and northern Mexico, but studies of desert fishes anywhere are also of interest. For information contact Dean Hendrickson, Curator of Ichthyology, Texas Natural History Collection, Texas Memorial Museum, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78705, U.S.A. Tel: (512) 471-9774; Fax: (512) 471- 9775. Internet: deanhend@utxvm.cc.utexas.edu Fish and Their Habitat: Theories, Methods and Applications International Symposium organized by the Environment Programme (PIR) of CNRS and the Group for Investigation and Management of Hydrosystems (GIP) will take place from December 6 - 8, 1994 in Lyon-Villeurbanne (France). Details were given in the June '94 issue of _Aquatic Survival_. For information contact: "Fish and their Habitat" Symposium, Universite Lyon-I, Batiment 401 C, URA CNRS 1451, 43 Bd. du 11 Novembre 1918, F-69622 - Villeurbanne - Cedex, France. Tel : (33) 72 44 84 55; Fax: (33) 72 43 11 41. Society of Canadian Limnologists/Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research The 1995 annual joint meeting will be in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, January 5 to 7, 1995. Papers are anticipated on all aspects of chemistry, physics, and biology of aquatic systems. The conference will be held simultaneously with the Canadian Conference for Fisheries Research. Special SCL sessions are planned on biodiversity, benthic and zooplankton dynamics, lotic systems, and contaminants in fish and food chains. Registration fees are $30 or $15 for students. The banquet cost is an additional $25 and reservations must be made by December 1, 1994. Enquiries and registrations should be addressed to Dr. Patricia Chambers, National Hydrology Research Institute, 11 Innovation Blvd., Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 3H5. Tel: (306) 975-5592; Fax: (306) 975-5143. Reinventing the Commons The Fifth Annual Common Property Conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property will be held in Bodoe, Norway, 24-28 May, 1995. Participants from all disciplines are invited to address questions related to the commons. Theoretical and empirical explorations of all aspects of common property rights regimes are encouraged. Some of the themes central to the conference will be the role of knowledge and institutional innovations related to common property resources and the challenges of sustaining biological and cultural diversity. Presentations on 44 themes will take place (270 abstracts have been submitted). Related directly to the aquatic environment there are 8 session themes: - The Coastal Commons in Transition - Managing Marine Mammals: Local Responses to Global Issues - Dilemmas in Co-Management of Fish and Wildlife - Fisheries Management: Macro Perspectives - Fisheries Management: Micro Perspectives - Privatising the Fishing Commons - Monitoring the Marine Commons - Conflict Management in Fisheries Also themes relating to biodiversity in general are expected. The agenda and themes of the conference are yet to be finalized so it would be advisable to make contact with the organizers if you are interested. Contact Erling Berge, Department of Sociology and Political Science, University of Trondheim, AVH, N-75055 Dragvoll, Norway. Fax: (+47) 7359 1564; Internet: erling.berge@svf.unit.no The International Arctic Social Science Association will hold its 1995 conference from May 28 to June 4 in Rovaniemi, Finland and Kautokeino, Norway. Participation in both conferences is being encouraged. Natural and Human-Induced Change in Madagascar: An International Symposium at The Field Museum June 2 to 4, 1995. See article elsewhere in this issue of _Aquatic Survival_. Sustainable Aquaculture '95 PACON Hawaii is organizing an international, multi-disciplinary symposium and exhibition entitled Sustainable Aquaculture '95. The symposium is being convened by Dr. John Bardach, internationally known authority on aquaculture and its place in society. It is being held from June 11-14, 1995 at the Ilikai Hotel, Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii. PACON International, P. O. Box 11568, Honolulu, HI 96828, U.S.A. Tel: (808) 956-6163; Fax: (808) 956-2580; Internet: saxena@wiliki.eng.hawaii.edu American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists The next annual meetings of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists (ASIH), the American Elasmobranch Society (AES) and the Herpetologists League (HL) will be on the campus of the University of Alberta (with its museums of zoology and palaeontology). This will be the 75th annual meeting for the ASIH and will take place June 15 to 19, 1995. For further information, please contact: Conference Services, University of Alberta, 44 Lister Hall, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2H6. Tel: (403) 492-4281; Fax: 403-492-7032; e-mail: mhoyle@opal.ucs.ualberta.ca Interdisciplinary Conference on the Environment This conference will be held at the Park Plaza Hotel and Towers Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A. from June 21-25, 1995 and is hosted by the Interdisciplinary Environmental Association (IEA) in conjunction with Assumption College. The conference is being organized because of the increasing need to combine ideas and research findings from different disciplines to enhance understanding of how nature works and how the interactions between the natural environment and human institutions are globally interconnected. The conference is aimed at the layperson and focuses on: 1. What do different disciplines have to offer with respect to environmental and resource problems, their solutions, and the institutions associated with them? 2. What are the implications of the globalization of environmental concerns for all life on planet Earth? The conference is open to all ideologies, political persuasions, and academic as well as nonacademic disciplines. Participants may organize sessions (please ask for "Session Organizer Guidelines"), present papers, chair sessions, discuss papers, or simply observe. For more information contact the conference chair: Dr. Demetri Kantarelis, IEA, Economics/Foreign Affairs Dept., Assumption College, 500 Salisbury Street, Worcester, Massachusetts 01615-0005, U.S.A. Tel: (508) 752-5615 (ext. 557); Fax: (508) 799-4502; Internet: dkantar@eve.assumption.edu International Larval Fish Conference An International Larval Fish Conference will be held in Sydney at the University of Sydney and the Australian Museum, from 26-30 June 1995 with the annual meetings of the Australian Society for Fish Biology (ASFB) held the following weekend (1-2 July). Details were given in the June '94 issue of _Aquatic Survival_. For information contact: Jeff Leis, Australian Museum, PO Box A285, Sydney South 2000, Australia, Tel: +61 2 339 8242; Fax: +61 2 339 8360; Internet: jeffl@amsg.Austmus.oz.au Molecular Biology in Fish, Fisheries and Aquaculture The Fisheries Society of the British Isles will hold this symposium at the University of Plymouth, England from July 10 to 13, 1995. Details were reported in the March 1994 issue of _Aquatic Survival_. For further information contact Dr. Colin Munn, FSBI Symposium, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, PL4 8AA, United Kingdom. Tel: +44 752 232900; Fax: +44 752 232927. PERCIS II - Second International Percid Fish Symposium The Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute will host this symposium on August 21-25, 1995 in Vaasa, Finland. The symposium is a continuation for the first percid fish symposium held at Quetico Centre, Ontario, Canada, in 1976. Since then, a lot of new information concerning northern hemisphere fresh-water percid fishes has appeared. Percid fish are an important part of fish assemblages in various types of waters. They have traditionally been the focus of fish and fisheries scientists. During the last few decades many studies have been carried out on percid fish biology in the field as well as in experimental designs. Environmental changes have also drawn attention to the percids because their responses may have an important role in the processes. In recent years, the need for a new PERCIS symposium has been agreed upon in many discussions among percid fish researchers from many countries. The goal of this symposium is to fulfil that need. This symposium has the following objectives: - To assess our current knowledge of the biology of percid fishes in the genera _Perca_, _Stizostedion_ and _Gymnocephalus_; - To identify priority areas for additional approaches in the research; - To increase international collaboration and exchanges of ideas among researchers working on percid fishes. For more information (and preregistration prior to December 31, 1994) contact Antti Lappalainen, Finnish Game and Fisheries Research Institute, P.O. Box 202, 00151 Helsinki, Finland. Internet: antti.lappalainen@rktl.fi 4th International Conference on Aquatic Ecosystem Health, and International Symposium on Microbial Food Web Dynamics in Marine and Freshwater Environments To be held in 1995 in Coimbra, Portugal and sponsored by the Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society. Contact: A.M.V.M. Soares (Portugal) - Tel: 351-39-24226; Fax: 351-39-28611 or P. Ross (U.S.A.) - Tel: (803) 792-7875; Fax: (803) 792-7084. International Symposium on Large Freshwater Ecosystems of the World and their Management To be held in Cairo, Egypt in the Winter, 1995 and sponsored jointly by Environmetrics and the Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management Society. Contact: A. El-Shaarawi (Canada) - Tel: (416) 336-4584; Fax: (416) 336-4989. Fourth International Aquarium Congress - 1996 Tokyo Sea Life Park will hold the Fourth International Aquarium Congress. Currently it is planned for June 23-27, 1996. For more details see the letter from the Director of Tokyo Sea Life Park in the "Letters" section of this issue of _Aquatic Survival_. World Fisheries Congress July 28 to August 2, 1996 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre in Brisbane, Australia. The address for information is: 2nd World Fisheries Congress, P.O. Box 1280, Milton, Brisbane, QLD 4064, Australia, Fax: (+)617-369-1512. <19> 24/04/95 ag508 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special thanks go to the companies who have provided funding for the development of the second edition of the _International Directory of Aquarist Organizations_. These include: - Aquarium Products; - Ekk Will Waterlife Resources; - Novalek, Inc.; - Rolf C. Hagen, Inc.; and - Wardley Corporation Thanks to the following publications for publishing an ACN advertisement for the current _International Directory of Aquarist Organizations_. These were published as a free service in support of the ACN and include the following publications: - _Freshwater and Marine Aquarium_ (Vol 17, No. 6, June 1994) for the editorial describing the ACN and our new Directory (p. 3) - _F.A.A.S. Report_ of the Federation of American Aquarium Societies, July/August 1994, p.20 - _Hobby Zoo_, June, 1994 (p. 83) and July/August, 1994 (p. 71) Thanks also go to: - Mark Rosenstein (mar@actwin.com) for placing a pointer to ACN's National Capital Freenet electronic archive on his World Wide Web Virtual Library Page for "FISH". - _Tropical Fish Hobbyist_, Vol. 42, No. 9, May, 1994, p. 168 for a summary of Paul Loiselle's article "Madagascar Update" from _Aquatic Survival_, Vol. 2, No. 3, p.1. - the new publication from the Netherlands, _Aquarium & Terrarium Hobbyist_ (ATH), Vol. 1, No. 1, June 1994 for publishing publicity information about the ACN (p.5). - Harry O. Specht for mentioning the ACN in his column titled "Species Maintenance of Killifish" in the _Journal of the American Killifish Association_, 27(4):119-120, July/August 1994. - _Panorama_, the newsletter of the San Francisco Aquarium Society, Inc. for publishing ACN advertising in several recent issues. - _DISKUSBRIEF_, the International Discus Journal (Volume 1, Issue 1 & 2, March & June 1994) for free service publication of ACN advertising. - _ACARA_, publication of the South American Cichlid Study Group (Volume 1, Number 2) for publishing ACN membership information. - _Discus Talk_, publication of the Discus Study Group (Volume 1994, Issue II), for free service publication of ACN advertising. - _Blazing Tattles_ (Vol. 3, nos. 1-3, January-March, 1994, p.5) dedicated to "Linking Health, Weather, Ecosystems, and Sustainability since 1991" for publicizing the ACN. - _MSAS Newsletter_ of the Maine State Aquarist Society (May, 1994. p. 7) for describing _Aquatic Survival_ to its membership. - _Wild About Animals_ (February, 1994, p. 53) for the short article on the ACN. The ACN is very grateful for all the good publicity it is getting. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep up with all the acknowledgements. My apologies to those I may have overlooked (rh). <20> 24/04/95 ag508 AQUATIC CONSERVATION NETWORK 1994 CORPORATE SPONSORS Aquarium Systems, Inc. Charles River Laboratories Ekk Will Waterlife Resources MAG NOY Ltd. Novalek, Inc. Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. Wardley Corporation 1994 AQUARIST SOCIETY SPONSORS Minnesota Aquarium Society 1994 INDIVIDUAL DONORS Frank Anderson David Armitage Eric Bjornson Scott Dowd Michael Florez Robert Hall Jan Huus Eizo Kimura Dr. Ang Kok-Jee Roger Langton Marian Lea Kenneth Nordby NEW MEMBERS Aquaristica SRL Via A. Labriola, 10/12 Sala Bolognese Bologna 40010 Italia Taylor Fisher Durham Regional Aquarium Society 1325 Commerce St. Pickering Ontario L1W 1E1 Canada Rick Haeffner Denver Zoo 2900 E. 23rd. Ave. Denver Colorado 80205 U.S.A. South American Cichlid Study Group c/o Jenny Kruckenberg P.O. Box 14123 Dinkytown Station Minneapolis Minnesota 55414-0123 U.S.A. Cynthia Lee Metro Toronto Zoo P.O. Box 280 West Hill Ontario M1E 4R5 Canada Harvey Macklin The Water Garden Network 480 William Street Stratford Ontario N5A 4Y8 Canada Kenneth MacKay International Development Research Centre P.O. Box 8500 Ottawa Ontario K1G 3H9 Canada Gordon C. Smith The Watershed Group 3023 Loomis St. Honolulu Hawaii 96822 U.S.A. Ron Traggiai Underwater Fantasies Inc. 9916 So. 36th St. Omaha Nebraska 68123 U.S.A. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATIONS CAN BE SENT DIRECTLY TO Sally Van Camp, 923 Wadsworth St. Syracuse , New York 13208, U.S.A. or to Aquatic Conservation Network 540 Roosevelt Avenue Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8 The annual membership fee is $25 (Canadian of U.S. currency). ******* End of Vol. 3, No. 3 - AQUATIC SURVIVAL *******