Boycotting the Wild Banggai Cardinalfish

Boycotting the Wild Banggai Cardinalfish


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Captive-bred Banggai Cardinalfishes. Matthew Wittenrich


Profit, ethics and the marine aquarium trade

Opinion by Matthew L. Wittenrich
This year's Marine Aquarium Conference of North America heard a rather alarming call for action and a warning question issued to everyone involved in the marine aquarium hobby. At what price do we sacrifice conservation?
Working with MASNA, Eric H. Borneman, marine biologist and author, introduced a grass roots effort to conserve the Banggai Cardinalfish, which he believes could face extinction in the wild within the next 10 years. In essence, Eric called for concerned aquarists and livestock sellers to boycott wild-caught Banggais and to support the trade in captive-bred Pterapogon kauderni.
[[url=http://en.microcosmaquariumexplorer.com/w/index.php?title=Boycotting_the_Wild_Banggai_Cardinalfish&action=edit§ion=1]edit[/url]] Extinction Repercussions


The gist of the message is simple. In the absence of government protection (from our own as well the Indonesian country of origin), the threat to wild Banggai populations is real. Unlike most reef fishes, the Banggai Cardinal has a limited range in the wild, with just several dozen local populations enar small Indonesian islands.
Two local populations have already been wiped out, and if current collection trends continue we could quite possibly witness the extinction of more wild Banggai populations within a short time.
As I pondered the thought of extinction I questioned the responsibility of the trade. Can the aquarium trade afford to be responsible for causing the extinction of a marine fish species? The answer is and emphatic "No."
For decades non-government agencies, industry leaders, and aquarists have struggled to combat attacks (for example, ‘raiders of the reef’ in Audubon Magazine), to work against blanket collection bans, and illustrate that the hobby is sustainable and beneficial to conservation and education.
[[url=http://en.microcosmaquariumexplorer.com/w/index.php?title=Boycotting_the_Wild_Banggai_Cardinalfish&action=edit§ion=2]edit[/url]] Cheap Fish, Poor Survival


This is where it gets confusing. The mortality rate of wild Banggais is horrible. It is not uncommon to lose entire shipments of wild fish, and the ones that survive long enough to sell seem to last only weeks. The reason is still a bit unclear, but crowding, stress and holding conditions are the primary concerns. Banggai Cardinals are imported in huge batches, and their immune systems are likely overrun by disease, possibly a newly identified virus.
So, wild fish are dying, which gives the fish a bad name in the eyes of hobbyists and wild populations are suffering. Hmmm. The confusing part comes when we look to the people breeding Banggais. They can’t compete with wild imports, as the market price is in the $3 US range. Banggai breeders are typically overstocked with healthy, hardy fish that can’t compete in a market looking for the lowest possible price.
Wild Banggais make a lot of people money along the supply chain, and their importation is not likely to cease until consumer demand for these fish drops. No one wants a sick fish and those that are sold (knowingly or unknowingly) breed aggravation among hobbyists. Dying fish are a major reason newcomers drop from the hobby.
When Banggais were first collected for the trade they fetched a king's ransom that was gladly paid. As the price dropped, so it seems did the quality. As in most aspects of the trade we have choices. We can choose healthy, captive-bred Banggais or wild Banggais that are likely to perish and contribute to the demise of wild populations as well as permanent damage to the image of the aquarium hobby.
Banggai breeders are becoming more prevalent throughout the country and there is no reason retail outlets should need or request wild imports. In my view, it is extremely important for hobbyists and local store owners to support local growers. A few extra bucks is a small price to pay to keep the breeders in the game and the Banggai Cardinal off the extinction list.
[[url=http://en.microcosmaquariumexplorer.com/w/index.php?title=Boycotting_the_Wild_Banggai_Cardinalfish&action=edit§ion=3]edit[/url]] A Breeders' Dilemma


This is important. If a local breeder produces Banggais to battle extinction but can’t sell his or her stock because retailers want cheap fish, what is the answer?
Do we breed only the species that fetch a high sum in the marketplace at the risk of the species conservation status? Do we target rare fish to increase our profit margin? And do we avoid species like Banggais and mandarins because we can’t make enough money doing it?
These are certainly tough questions and the answers ultimately lie in the hands of the many that try. If we target rare fish we may make some money, but we may also increase the demand in the trade and possibly put more pressure on wild populations.
For years, the Splendid Dottyback was elusive and rare and everyone that observed the rare underwater photographs drooled over the possibility of obtaining one. Before long, they were available through commercial aquaculture sources. This spiked the specie's attraction, and wild imports increased exponentially. Collectors, wholesalers, importers—there is always someone waiting to take advantage of a popularity boost.
Whether we like it or not we have responsibilities. As hobbyists we have the responsibility to ensure a sustainable future for wild populations of the fish we keep as well as the hobby itself.
We need to identify species of concern and buy captive bred. As breeders we have the responsibility of propagating and learning as much as we can to preserve species of concern and offer sustainable alternatives. Personally, I love to raise a rare and elusive fish, but in the eyes of conservation suggest we concentrate our efforts on those that need it most instead of putting more pressure on wild stocks.
In the absence of a governing body, the multiple segments of the aquarium trade (exporters, importers, retailers, and consumers) are responsible for its future. Before the government becomes the body of involvement, let us join forces and demonstrate our passion.


References

• Species Survival Network Factsheet Banggai Cardinalfish In Trouble
  
• The UN Assessment denying CITES II listing: FAO Banggai Cardinalfish Assessment
  

• Marine Aquarium Societies of North America
  

MASNA

• Marine Ornamental Fish and Invertebrate Breeders
  

MOFIB

• Downloadable Manual for the production of the Banggai Cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni:
  

Hawaii Seagrant Program, Clyde Tamaru Download

• Banggai Breeding I by Frank Marini.
  

• The Complete Illustrated Breeder's Guide to Marine Aquarium Fishes, Matthew L. Wittenrich
  

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Here, Here. I am with you.

I am too, but not until we get a good genetic base to breed from up here.

Northern Minnesota will be known as the Banggai capitol of the wolrd. MUAHAHAHAHAHA

Breeders should be the only ones who can get WC banggais as they need the genetic variances...otherwise it only makes sense to have captive bred....

FYI, this has been going on for almost a decade now. I think the MACNA meeting referred to was 2007 or 2008..can't remember.

+1 Ranger Reefer. The truth however is that there aren't enough people breeding banggais to satisfy demand overall. It's easy to overproduce anything for the local market however. Still, Banggais are always in demand, so I tend to get pissed off when I hear folks say they don't do it because they can't make any money at it...folks breed Frontosa and Yellow Labidochromis all day which "work wise" are comparable fish. No one says THOSE fish aren't profitable...so why aren't Banggais?!

Matt

overall demand is so hard to satify because they ship poorly but one would think that a CB banggai should ship fine...I was thinking of doing the cardinalfish as a one and done but maybe I'll try and do em as more of a permanent project fish...although Chad Vossen sounds like he is gonna have the Metro area flooded with them

How about this. If people up here want to breed these things, I will find avenues to move them. I'm sure that wholesalers and MN LFSs would snatch these things up in a heart beat.

If there is an option to buy captive bred even if it is a little more cash I will always go that route. Same goes for corals. I don't like to buy wild caught corals and would rather stick with captive grown corals.

Yes, I would have to sell them for over $30.00 (and I can only buy one at a time). Personally, I would rather work towards filling in the gap with the demand for CB Banggai.

There are a few people that are getting on this band wagon in the cities.

Ah I think the people who talk about it vs the people who do it though I think is a big gap...once they find out that it isn't buy a pair and let em "Do their thing" and babies appear I think alot drop out....even if it is "just" hatching brine to have foodstuffs for your growing fish....otherwise people would have been doing this forever...the plight of the banggai is not a recent thing