Marine ornamental species from European waters: a valuable overlooked resource or a future threat for the conservation of marine ecosystems?

Ricardo Calado

doi:10.3989/scimar.2006.70n3389

Authors

Ricardo Calado CCMAR, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3989/scimar.2006.70n3389

Keywords:

marine ornamentals, aquarium trade, marine conservation, marine resources, management, alternative fisheries

Abstract

P align=justify>The worldwide growth of the marine aquarium market has contributed to the degradation of coral reef ecosystems. Enforcing the legislation on importing ornamental species has led some European traders to concentrate on local species. Portugal is used as a case study of marine ornamental fish and invertebrate collection in European waters. One hundred and seventy two species occurring in Portuguese waters (mainland, the Azores and Madeira archipelagos) were considered as potential targets for the marine aquarium industry, some of which are already traded on a regular basis (e.g. Clibanarius erythropus, Lysmata seticaudata, Cerithium vulgatum, Hinia reticulata and Ophioderma longicauda). To ensure appropriate management and conservation of these resources, the following options have been evaluated: banning the harvest and trade of all marine ornamental species from European waters; creating sanctuaries and “no take zones”; issuing collection permits; creating certified wholesalers; implementing the use of suitable gear and collecting methods; setting minimum and maximum size limits; establishing species-based quotas; protecting rare, or “key stone” species and organisms with poor survivability in captivity; establishing closed seasons; culturing ornamental organisms; and creating an “eco-fee” to support research and management. Establishing this sustainable alternative fishery may help minimise the economical and social impacts caused by the crash of important food fisheries in Portugal and other European and West African countries.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Bolker, B.M., C.M. St. Mary, C.W. Osenberg, R.J. Schmitt and S.J. Holbrook. – 2002. Management at a different scale: marine ornamentals and local processes. Bull. Mar. Sci., 70: 733-748.

Bruckner, A.W. – 2001. Tracking the trade in ornamental coral reef organisms: the importance of CITES and its limitations. Aquarium Sci. Conserv. 3: 79-94. doi:10.1023/A:1011369015080

Bryant, D., L. Burke, J. McManus and M. Spalding. – 1998. Reefs at risk. A map-based indicator of threats to the world’s coral reefs. Washington DC: World Resource Institute.

Bunting, B.W., P. Holthus and S. Spalding. – 2003. The marine aquarium industry and reef conservation. In: J.C. Cato and C.L. Brown (eds.), Marine ornamental species – Collection, culture & conservation, pp. 109-124. Iowa State Press, Iowa, USA.

Calado, R. Lin, J., Rhyne, A.L., Araújo, R., Narciso, L. – 2003a. Marine ornamental decapods – Popular, pricey and poorly studied. J. Crust. Biol., 23: 963-973. doi:10.1651/C-2409

Calado, R., J. Lin, A.L. Rhyne, R. Araújo and L. Narciso. – 2003b. Overview of marine ornamental shrimp aquaculture. In: J.C. Cato and C.L. Brown (eds.), Marine ornamental species – Collection, culture & conservation, pp. 221-230. Iowa State Press, Iowa, USA.

Calado, R., L. Narciso, S. Morais, A.L. Rhyne and J. Lin. – 2003c. A rearing system for the culture of ornamental decapod crustacean larvae. Aquaculture, 218: 329-339. doi:10.1016/S0044-8486(02)00583-5

Chapman, F.A., S.A. Fitz-Coy, E.M. Thunberg and C.M. Adams. – 1997. United States of America trade in ornamental fish. J. World Aquac. Soc., 28: 1-10. doi:10.1111/j.1749-7345.1997.tb00955.x

Côté, I. M. – 2000. Evolution and ecology of cleaning symbioses in the sea. Oceanogr. Mar. Biol., 38: 311-355.

Daw, T.M., G.C.C. Rogers, P. Mapson and J.E. Kynoch. – 2001. Structure and management issues of the emerging ornamental fish trade in Eritrea. Aquarium Sci. Conserv., 3: 53-64. doi:10.1023/A:1011321620692

Dhert, P., L.C. Lim, P. Candreva, H. Van Duffel and P. Sorgeloos. – 1997. Possible applications of modern fish larviculture technology to ornamental fish production. Aquarium Sci. Conserv.,1: 119-128. doi:10.1023/A:1018343819652

Dunn, M.R. – 2001. The biology and exploitation of John dory, Zeus faber (Linnaeus, 1758) in the waters of England and Wales. ICES J. Mar. Sci., 58: 96-105. doi:10.1006/jmsc.2000.0993

Fosså, S.A. and A.J. Nielsen. – 2000. The modern coral reef aquarium. Volume 3. Birgit Schmettkamp Verlag, Bornheim.

Frank, K.T. and D. Brickman. – 2001. Contemporary management issues confronting fisheries science. J. Sea Res., 45: 173-187. doi:10.1016/S1385-1101(01)00056-9

Friedlander, A.M. – 2001. Essential fish habitat and effective design of marine reserves: Application for marine ornamental fishes. Aquarium Sci. Conserv., 3: 135-150. doi:10.1023/A:1011390729192

Holt, G.J. – 2003. Research on culturing early life stages of marine ornamental fish. In: J.C. Cato and C.L. Brown (eds.), Marine ornamental species – Collection, culture & conservation, pp. 251-254. Iowa State Press, Iowa, USA.

Koslow, J.A., G.W. Boehlert, J.D. Gordon, R.L. Haedrich, P. Lorance and N. Parin. – 2000. Continental slope and deep-sea fisheries: implications for a fragile ecosystem. ICES J. Mar. Sci., 57: 548-557. doi:10.1006/jmsc.2000.0722

Losey, G.S., A.S. Grutter, G. Rosenquist, J.L. Mahon and J.P. Zamzow. – 1999. Cleaning symbiosis: a review. In: V.C. Almada, R.F. Oliveira and E.J. Gonçalves (eds.), Behaviour and conservation of littoral fishes, pp. 379-395. Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisboa, Portugal.

Michael, S.W. – 2001. A PocketExpert™ Guide – Marine fishes 500+ essential to know aquarium species. T.F.H. Publications, Inc., New Jersey.

Myers, R.A. and T.J. Quinn II. – 2002. Estimating and testing nonadditivity in fishing mortality: implications for detecting a fisheries collapse. Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci., 59: 597-601. doi:10.1139/f02-048

Olivier, K. – 2003. World trade in ornamental species. In: J.C. Cato and C.L. Brown (eds.), Marine ornamental species – Collection, culture & conservation, pp. 49-63. Iowa State Press, Iowa, USA.

Ostrowski, A.C. and C.W. Laidley. – 2001. Application of marine foodfish techniques in marine ornamental aquaculture: Reproduction and larval first feeding. Aquarium Sci. Conserv., 3: 191-204. doi:10.1023/A:1011349931035

Spotte, S. – 1998. “Cleaner” shrimps? Helgol. Meeresunters., 52: 59-64. doi:10.1007/BF02908736

Sprung, J. – 2001. Oceanographic Series™ - Invertebrates a quick reference guide. Ricordea Publishing, Florida, USA.

Sutinen, J.G. – 1999. What works well and why: evidence from fishery-management experiences in OECD countries. ICES J. Mar. Sci., 56: 1051-1058. doi:10.1006/jmsc.1999.0551

Tlusty, M. – 2002. The benefits and risks of aquacultural production for the aquarium trade. Aquaculture, 205: 203-219. doi:10.1016/S0044-8486(01)00683-4

Wabnitz, C., M. Taylor, E. Green and T. Razak. 2003. From ocean to aquarium. UNEP-WCMC, Cambridge, UK.

Wirtz, P. – 1995.Unterwasserführer Madeira, Kanaren, Azoren. Niedere Tiere. Delius Klasing, Naglschmid Verlag, Stuttgart, Germany.

Witherell, D., C. Pautzke and D. Fluharty. – 2000. An ecosystembased approach for Alaska groundfish fisheries. ICES J. Mar. Sci., 57: 771-777. doi:10.1006/jmsc.2000.0719

Wood, E. – 2001. Global advances in conservation and management of marine ornamental resources. Aquarium Sci. Conserv., 3: 65-77. doi:10.1023/A:1011391700880

Wood, E.M. – 1985. Exploitation of coral reef fishes for the aquarium trade. Report to the Marine Conservation Society.

Zander, C.D., U. Meyer and A. Schmidt. – 1999. Cleaner fish symbiosis in European and Macaronesian waters. In: V.C. Almada, R.F. Oliveira R.F. and E.J. Gonçalves (eds.), Behaviour and conservation of littoral fishes, pp. 397-422. Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada, Lisboa, Portugal.

Ziemann, D.A. – 2001. The potential for the restoration of marine ornamental fish populations through hatchery releases. Aquarium Sci. Conserv., 3: 107-117. doi:10.1023/A:1011367615465