the Editor says: Like Blu, do you also find yourself instinctively stopping in front of aquarium tanks to admire the beautiful tropical fish inside? Watching them glide through the water is so soothing — but do you know how those fish ended up there in the first place? Research has found that growing demand from the aquarium trade has pushed many species to the brink of overfishing, causing their numbers to drop dramatically... No demand, no harm. From now on, come dive with Blu and see the fish in their natural home! <Full article reprinted from the Environmental Information Center, compiled from international sources; translated by Xie Mingshan; reviewed by Xu Zuling>
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Colorful tropical fish bring life to home aquariums, but the Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) — recognizable by its striking black stripes and white spots — has seen its population plummet due to the aquarium trade, declining by as much as 90% since the 1990s. Driven by conservation advocates, the United States is now moving to impose an import and export ban, pressing Indonesia to take habitat conservation seriously.
The Banggai Cardinalfish, seen here swimming among Indonesia's coral reefs, has suffered dramatic population losses due to the aquarium trade. Photo credit: Silke Baron (CC BY 2.0)
The Banggai Cardinalfish is a small saltwater fish that inhabits Indonesia's coral reefs. In 2021, the Animal Welfare Institute, the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, and Defenders of Wildlife jointly submitted a petition urging the government to establish a formal ban.
Conservation groups noted that the United States is the leading importer of Banggai Cardinalfish, bringing in approximately 120,000 individuals per year. The booming aquarium trade has driven wild populations into severe overfishing, with numbers falling by as much as 90% since the 1990s. Scientists estimate that 75–80% of wild-caught fish die before they are ever exported.
According to the Associated Press, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) listed the Banggai Cardinalfish as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act back in 2016 — yet it was not until mid-August of this year that a proposal to ban imports and exports was put forward, aimed at preventing further decline of wild populations.
The Banggai Cardinalfish is found primarily in Indonesia's Banggai Islands and faces a triple threat from the pet trade, habitat loss, and climate change. "This is an encouraging, if long overdue, step," said Jane Davenport, a senior attorney at Defenders of Wildlife.
D.J. Schubert, a wildlife biologist at the Animal Welfare Institute, described the proposal as a critical first step toward stopping the export of Banggai Cardinalfish to the United States, and as a clear message to Indonesia that its government must take greater action to protect the species and its habitat.
The proposal has not yet been finalized. NOAA will gather public comments and, if warranted, may hold a public hearing before reaching a final decision.
References
- Associated Press (August 17, 2023), US looks to ban imports, exports of a tropical fish threatened by aquarium trade
- Center for Biological Diversity (August 15, 2023), U.S. Proposes Ban on Imports, Exports of Banggai Cardinalfish Threatened by Aquarium Trade, Indonesian Fish Has Declined up to 90%
