Colorful tropical fish swim gracefully in a glass tank, so
tranquil, peaceful and relaxing . . . unless you know how they got there.
For every saltwater fish that makes it to the collector's tank, as many as
nine more die, and the poisonous cyanide residue left behind contaminates
the reefs, killing other fish and living coral. The aquarium trade is a
multi-million dollar industry worldwide - and one that contributes
significantly to the demise of coral reefs.
In the U.S. alone, one in ten households has an aquarium tank. The
Philippines and Indonesia provide the majority of saltwater fish for the
aquarium trade. Most are caught using sodium cyanide which stuns the fish
and makes them easier to catch. Although this practice is illegal in the
Philippines, it is still widespread due primarily to the lack of effective
enforcement. The overfished and degraded environment that results from this
destructive practice leads to more extensive chemical use in the hunt for
dwindling numbers of fish.
Fishers use cyanide tablets broken into pieces between their teeth,
and mixed with water in squirt bottles. They shoot the solution directly at
the desired fish, or at a coral cluster to flush fish out of their hiding
places. Cyanide burns the fish, causing them to become disoriented and less
difficult to catch. It contaminates the reef ecosystem, destroying habitat
and decreasing the chance that fisheries will recover. Studies and
anecdotal reports show that cyanide causes coral to bleach, and repeated
doses kill reefs. In addition, fish weakened in this way are more
susceptible to death in transit, in the aquarium store, or in your home
aquarium. The mortality rate is estimated to be as high as 90%.
The use of cyanide also presents a danger to fish gatherers and
their families. Injuries and deaths from cyanide poisoning have occurred
among fishermen and their children.
In the Philippines, there are approximately 2,500 ornamental fish
gatherers and 50 exporters. Often the middleman who buys and transports
fish from the reef to the exporter is the same person who sells cyanide to
the fishers. Many fisherfolk are indebted to or intimidated by these
middlemen who profit from the use of cyanide.
Retraining programs encourage alternative fishing methods similar
to those used before the introduction of cyanide to fishing more than 30
years ago. Trainings in the Philippines by the Haribon Foundation
(Philippines) and Ocean Voice International (Canada) enhance community
understanding of coral reef ecology, and encourage establishment of marine
reserves. Proficient net gatherers usually collect as many live fish as
those who use cyanide, and for one tenth the cost: US$50 a year for
fine-meshed nets versus US$500 a year for cyanide. The average income of
these fishers is between US$1,000 and US$2,000 a year.
Still, only a third of the retrained fish gatherers stick with the
net method. Unavailability of nets and continued pressure from middlemen to
use cyanide account for the high recidivism rate.
In the U.S., the Lacey Act forbids the import of animals caught by
illegal means in their country of origin. At present there is no effective
method for testing live fish for cyanide. A test for killed fish has
recently been established at some airports in the Philippines, but tests
are often evaded. Fish are not tested in the U.S. These factors make it
difficult for hobbyists, retailers and U.S. Customs and Fish and Wildlife
officials to know which fish are illegal.
The aquarium fish industry is aware of the problem, but the
industry as a whole has not taken action to stop this illegal and
destructive trade.
What you can do:
* Don't buy saltwater tropicals until the aquarium industry stops dealing
in cyanide-caught fish. Net fishers in the Philippines have formed a union,
the Federation of Aquarium Fish Collectors (PMP), to work directly with
exporters, but effective enforcement of the cyanide-caught fish ban is not
in place at this time.
* Tell your Congressional representative that you support increased funding
for enforcement by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Department and U.S. Customs
to test and confiscate banned fish, and to confiscate illegally imported
coral.
* Support CORAL FOREST's efforts to eliminate the illegal fish trade. Your
contributions enable us to alert the media and the public about this threat
to reefs. Through communication and education, we can make a difference.
* Send us your old masks, snorkels, fins, and still cameras. CORAL FOREST
collects contributions of money and equipment to send to the Haribon
Foundation for their net training program, and the establishment and
policing of marine sanctuaries.
For more information, call CORAL FOREST at 415-788-REEF.
>If you would like to input an article, letter to the editor, or brief
>"Notebook" item to the June issue of "Aquatic Survival", then do it soon
>or at least let me know something is in the works. Companies, please ask
>about advertising rates.
>
>"Aquatic Survival" is a hard copy Bulletin mailed to dues paying members of
>the ACN. Back issues are online for anyone to read at our web site.
>
>You don't have to be an ACN member to volunteer an article for Bulletin.
>It would just be nice to let "Aquatic Survival" readers have some
>knowledge about your work or share in your expertise in a particular area.
>And eventually it will find a place at our web site.
>
>Submit material by email, fax or post to the address below.
>
>... Rob
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
>Rob Huntley Internet: rob at pinetree.org
>Aquatic Conservation Network
>540 Roosevelt Avenue
>Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2A 1Z8
>Tel: (613) 729-4670 Fax: (613) 729-5613
>WWW URL - http://www.achilles.net/holiday/acn/acnhome.html
>ACN is a Registered Charity - Canada (0953471-52); U.S.A. (EIN 98-0141397)
>--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coral Forest
400 Montgomery St. Suite 1040
San Francisco, CA 94104 USA
Ph: (415)788-7333
Fax:(415)331-4064
E-mail: coral at igc.apc.org
web site: http://www.blacktop.com/coralforest