Exploitation, Part II
Coral Health and Monitoring Program
coral at coral.AOML.ERL.GOV
Sun Jul 16 03:58:54 EDT 1995
From: bd268 at freenet.carleton.ca (Jaime Baquero)
To: coral-list at reef.aoml.erl.gov
Subject: Exploitation of marine fish and invertebrates
Reply-To: bd268 at freenet.carleton.ca
Part II
It is well known that many fish perish at the time of collection
through cyanide poisoning. Others die at the collection points
(fisherfolk communities),exporters holding facilities, in transit
to the importer country or at the importer holding facilities. The
remainder die within a few days or weeks of thei arrival at the pet
shop or at the aquarium hobbyist's home.
Unfortunatly, sodium cyanide is not the only factor responsible for
the high mortality registered at each level of the marine fish and
invertebrates trade.
Other factors contributing to mortality include:
-Unsuitability of certain species to survive in captivity:
From the 932 different species of marine fish collected for the
aquarium hobby,close to 400 species could be considered target
species (more frequently found at the pet shop).
From these, 280 are considered as species that are from moderate
to difficult to keep in captivity, and as a consequence, register
high mortality rates, 100% in some cases.
i.e. members of the families:
Chaetodontidae
Ephippidae
Syngnathidae
Muraenidae
Carcharhinidae
Lamnidae
Pomacanthidae
Labridae
-Incompatibility of aquaria inhabitants
-Unbalanced diet
-Starvation
-Aquarium inhabitants overfeeding (pollution)
-Aquaria overcrowding
-Imbalance between chemical, physical and biological conditions in the
holding tanks
-Physiological damage inflicted to the fish when:
* Collected
* Handled and held at collection points at exporters,importers and retai-
lers holding facilities
-Fish diseases (parasites or bacterial infections)
-Copper poisoning ( at exporters', importers',retailers' and hobbyists'
tanks)
-Poor aquarium management at importers, retailers and aquarium hobbyists
holding facilities
-Lack of information among fishers, exporters, importers, retailers and
aquarium hobbyists
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