| Destructive Fishing Techniques |
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CYANIDE FISHING The use of Cyanide as a fishing technique was first documented in the Philippines in 1962. More than 150,000 kg of cyanide is believed to be used in the Philippines annually by the aquarium trade and more than a million kg have been used since the 1960’s. The use of cyanide is known to cause mortality on laboratory Corals in measured doses, however this data is very difficult to quantify in regard to wild populations . Local fishermen and dive operators however have no doubt on its effects . Recent studies have shown that the combination of cyanide use and stress of post capture handling results in mortality of up to 75 % of the organisms within less than 48 hours of capture. With high mortality numbers, a greater number of fish must be caught in order to supplement post catch death. The use of cyanide is also known to produce high mortality in non target organisms such as invertebrates that might be in the surrounding area when cyanide is used (Baquero 1999). Estimates suggest between 70 to 90 % of aquarium fish exported from the Philippines are caught with cyanide. Indonesia also has a high volume of fish caught with cyanide, about 90%. Due to the post capture handling stress and the effects of the cyanide, fish are bound to have a shorter live span than usual in our aquariums. According to an interview with experienced aquarium owners, they were willing to pay more for net-caught fish because of the higher survival rate. They also said they would not trust an eco-labelling system, which can be misleading. Fig. 1. Criteria of new and experienced hobbyists for buying fishes (new hobbyists: customers with <2 years experience; experienced hobbyists: >2 years experience; with 40 interviewers) (A — appearance of fishes, e.g. colour, $ — price, H — health of fishes, e.g. with or without wounds/ scars, S — size). (Tsang) BLAST FISHING Another destructive collection technique used by fishermen involves the use of explosives. This so called "blast fishing" stuns, injures and kills fish due to the immense pressure caused by the detonation. While some fish simply float to the surface where ready fishermen scoop them out of the water, a large percentage of unwanted species sink or float away (Sievert). Similar to cyanide, using explosives allows fishermen to obtain larger catch sizes compared to using nets or hooks. In addition to producing excessive By-catch , the underwater explosion destroys corals that are slow to recover (News Target). Blast fishing not only has severe and detrimental effects on the fisheries and Coral species but also effects social aspects. These include decreases in available food for the present and future generations, the economy due to less exportation in the live fish trade, and tourism because the once aesthetic Coral Reefs are being blown away. =Net fishing= A common technique to catch fish is the use of nets. Nets capture small amounts of fish compared to blast or cyanide but is more environment friendly and less expensive. Net fishing does not harm the fish the way blast fishing and cyanide fishing does so as a result, fish buyers are more willing to buy fish caught in nets. Fish caught in nets tend to live longer in aquariams. Net fishing captures less fish than blast fishing and cyanide fishing but is more environment friendly. CORAL REEFS Coral reefs are referred to by biologists as the “rainforest of the seas” because they support over 4,000 fish Species and account for over 25 % of all Marine Life (Wabritz et al 2003) (Environmental Media Services). The Marine Ornamental Trade depends upon the world’s reefs for its trade of both fish and reef species. Approximately 3,000 tons of coral enter the trade annually (Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association). The US imported more than 80% of all live coral in the aquarium fish trade, which consisted of 350,000 species, in 1996 (EMS). Coral reefs are in high demand commercially, as a traded Commodity and environmentally, as a vital habitat for much of marine wildlife. Unfortunately, coral reefs are being depleted at an unsustainable rate. According to Environmental Media Services, a reported 35 million acres (140,000 km²) of coral reefs have been destroyed in the last three decades. “They are among the world’s most fragile and endangered ecosystems” (EMS). Much of the degradation of coral reefs can be attributed to cyanide and Blast Fishing , supporting the aquarium fish trade. In the Philippines alone, 150 tonnes (330,000 lb) of cyanide is sprayed on its reefs each year (EMS). Questions still remain about how much cyanide poisoning the corals can take and the susceptibility and tolerance levels of different coral species (Barber and Pratt 1998). SEAHORSES (AND THE LIVE FISH TRADE) The seahorse is in high demand around the globe. They are becoming ever more popular for aquariums and medicine. Nearly 40 countries are actively involved in the trade. “Large seahorses are selling for up to $550 in Hong Kong” (Geocites). In Hong Kong seahorses are imported live usually caught with cyanide; although, harvesting by net is becoming more prevalent. The Chinese consume the animals for their use in traditional medicine. The seahorse is also becoming excessively more popular in the aquarium fish trade where Westerners dominate the market. It is estimated that about 20 million are harvested annually from the Philippines. It is also estimated that populations are declining at a rate between 25 and 50 % (PBS). This is mainly caused by habitat destruction, cyanide and blast fishing in coral reefs, and increased consumption. However, conservation efforts are on the rise and becoming increasingly effective. A strategy now under way is to pay fishermen for juvenile seahorses caught in the reef, then the seahorses are kept in a controlled environment, by a conservation group, long enough for them to reproduce and then sold back to the fishermen. This method of conservation has become very effective because it pays the fishermen more and encourages sustainable harvesting. Sources {Link without Title} [www.geocities.com/rainforest/canopy/7897/page2.html ] ECONOMICS One of the main reasons that the aquarium fish trade is able to flourish is based on economics. This trade began in the Philippines in 1957 (World Resources Institute), and has been growing dramatically since on its way to becoming a $963 million trade in the U.S alone (WRI). About 50 to 60% of aquarium fish imported to the United States come from the Philippines (Scubazoo). A large portion of this trade resides in the Southeast Asia region, and as a result between $300 million to 400 million comes from this trade of aquarium fish in this region (National University of Singapore). The Philippines, Indonesia, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Australia, Fiji, the Maldives and Palau supply more than 98% of the total number of fish exported between 1997 to 2002 (Ornamental Fish International), and in these nations the fish trade contributes a large portion of the economy and provides a living for many. A main reason for this is because aquarium fish are the highest value product that is possible to harvest from coral reefs (OFI), so as a result this becomes a lucrative occupation for many in nations where there are very few economic alternatives. For an average village fisherman 60 to 70% of their income come from the capture of live fish, and some fishermen will spend a month after high valued species, which can be worth a whole month's salary (Scubazoo). PROPOSED MITIGATIONS AND CERTIFICATION SCHEMES See related article U.S. National Wild And Scenic Rivers Several organizations are now setting standards for the collection, handling, and distribution of fish and aquatic organisms for the aquarium trade. The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC), is a nonprofit organization which has recently developed a series of standards and certifications. Paul Holthus, executive director of MAC, stated that "the program will save money by reducing mortality [and only allow a maximum of one percent dead on arrival and one percent dead after arrival..."(Marine Biology 12). This would in turn allow for education and possible correction of some of the more harmful ing tactics of other, less environmentally sound, certification schemes. Having recognized the necessity of the reef's abundant resources, relative to both the aquarium trade and the sustenance of those communities that provide catch, the next step is creating a sustainable fishery capable of dispersing equitable benefits among all parties involved. One of the proposed methods of mitigation is the establishment of an elaborate certification scheme, applicable throughout the processes of the trade. The Marine Aquarium Council , also known as MAC, is an international non-profit organization dedicated to conserving coral reef ecosystems ( {Link without Title} ), and is responsible for the task. The live aquarium fish trade targets the exotic fish that primarily inhabit coral reefs; the dependence on the trade for income by many small fishing communities located throughout Southeast Asia, combined with increasing consumer demands and a shrinking fish stock with which to satisfy them leads many fishermen in those areas to employ hazardous collection/husbandry methods that could potentially destroy delicate reef ecosystems. MAC aims to impose restrictions on the collection processes, predominantly in the form of certifications granting the right to harvest the reef fish while maintaining healthy fishing methods, as described in MAC's 2004 second quarter newsletter. Places like the Philippines have banned the use of cyanide in Fishing practices, yet usage still continues. In addition to certification schemes, community-level enforcement (co-management) is practiced in certain areas. One example is the success story of Apo Island in the Philippines. Cooperation between local people and governmental agencies have been key in making co-management work (Barber and Pratt 1998). Marine Protected Area s have also been in use and conservation and preservation tactics, of which have only worked in isolated areas away from fishermen (Butler 1996). Endeavors that rely on more environmentally aware methods are particularly influential in the United States because the U.S. imports 60% of the ornamental fish that go through the live fish trade, as well as 70-90% of the live coral, and upwards of 95% of the live rock used in aquariums. Furthermore, this trade is being recorded as increasing by 10-20% annually in the United States (Seaweb, 2004). The main source of organisms for the live marine aquarium trade comes from third world nations in Southeast Asia , whose reefs make up 45% of the world's total (International Marine Alliance, 2003). The World Wildlife Fund 's Philippines President, Lory Tan, claims that the Philippines reef fish stock populations have declined by 90% in the last 50 years (World Wildlife Fund, 2005). Some environmentalists suggest that 80% of southeast Asia's reefs are "at risk of serious degradation in the near future" (International Marine Alliance, 2003). The World Wildlife Fund has stated that the live aquarium fish trade, as currently practiced in Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea , and other countries where collection methods as blast and cyanide fishing are used, will prove ultimately unsustainable. Mortality rates prove to be a large problem in the aquarium trade because a majority of the fish caught, usually those caught using Destructive Fishing Techniques , die in transportation and handling. According to the Department of Biological Sciences, improvements in packing and technology are needed to ensure high survival rates in ornamental fish. This can be accomplished using knowledge and research of the natural habitat of individual species to revise packing methods to suit fish needs. The transit of fishes through systemized channels also decreases the time between packing and arriving at the destination. The Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) plans to regulate the mortality rates of aquarium fish based on the batch size. Their plan is to encourage fishermen and aquarium importers to become certified in compliance with mortality rate regulations. REFERENCES |
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