Bangkok--Sep 28--Greenpeace
Environmental groups Greenpeace and Telapak revealed today results from field investigations showing strong evidence of the ongoing illegal and destructive live fish trade in Humphead Wrasse in Indonesia. With the Thirteenth Conference of the Parties of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES) just 10 days away, Telapak and Greenpeace are urging governments to support the proposal by the governments of Fiji, the EU and the USA for the listing of Humphead Wrasse (Cheilinus undulates) on Appendix II of CITES due to its dramatic decline in numbers in recent years.
Research shows alarmingly low levels in the numbers of Humphead Wrasse in Indonesia, where it is locally known as Napoleon fish, due to destructive and unsustainable fishing practices. In Kei islands, catch of the Humphead Wrasse is a meager 1 fish per boat a month in 2004, drastically down from its 1990 levels of 60-90 fish a month. The same is happening in areas in Sulawesi where current catches are down to 5 fish per boat per month, from 90-300 fish per boat per
month in 1990. (1)
The common, yet illegal use of cyanide to stun and capture valuable
reef fish for the lucrative live fish trade has been used for the last 2 decades in Indonesia. At the same time it has been killing off corals and many other reef animals. This destructive fishing method as well as the unregulated export of young "plate-sized" fish which are removed before being able to reproduce, are threatening the future survival of this species.
"Estimates of the illegal trade in Wrasse are as high as 80% of the
total Indonesian trade. At present, there is only about 320,000 Humphead Wrasse left in Indonesia. Compare that to the size of Indonesia's reefs, that amounts to about 3 to 4 fish per square kilometer of reef," said Telapak Oceans campaigner, Imran Amin. "With very little regulation on Wrasse exports, it is no wonder this magnificent fish species is in severe decline."
The unsustainable live fish trade that feeds demands in Hong Kong and
other Asian markets is driving this long-lived fish to extinction. Indonesia contributes up to 50 % of Hong Kong's live food fish, where fish are displayed live in restaurants and are sold at premium prices to diners. Humphead Wrasse has been exported to Hong Kong through Indonesia's international airports, but most are sold using Hong Kong vessels that come and pick up the fish to avoid fees, taxes and management regulations.
"The world's oceans are in serious decline," said Greenpeace
International Oceans campaigner Shane Rattenbury. "CITES is a legally-binding tool that can be effectively used to halt unsustainable trade in our ocean species, before extinction occurs. It is crucial that countries support the Appendix II listing of the Humphead Wrasse."
The Greenpeace flagship, SV Rainbow Warrior, is in Bali to highlight
the issue of unsustainable fisheries, along with Indonesian NGO Telapak. Greenpeace and Telapak will meet with members of fishing communities who have switched from using destructive cyanide fishing techniques to sustainable practices.
For more information:
Shane Rattenbury, Greenpeace International Oceans Campaigner, +316
46177538 Imran Amin, Program Coordinator, Telapak, +628 11112321 Arthur Jones Dionio, Regional Media Campaigner, +661 9254835
EDITOR'S NOTE
1) Y. Sadovy, August 2004, "Summary of the Information on the History
and Current Status of the Humphead Wrasse, Cheilinus Undulatus" IUCN-SSC
Arthur Jones Dionio
Regional Media Campaigner
Greenpeace Southeast Asia
Tel: +661 9254835
Fax: +662 2714243 End.
--InfoQuest (NT)--