Stop Sale of Endangered Cardinalfish
- by: Matt P.
- recipient: Aquarium Industry
The collection of this fish should be stopped immediately through a voluntary moratorium on the collection, sale, and purchase self imposed by members of the marine aquarium industry and hobby. Also, the aquarium industry needs to offer more sustainably caught animals such as those certified by the Marine Aquarium Council. The aquarium hobby has helped to preserve species that have gone extinct in the wild from the actions of other industries and people. Hopefully, the survival of the Banggai cardinalfish does not become dependent on the industry that could lead to its extinction.
We the undersigned are supporters of the protection of threatened and endangered species, as well as of the responsible sustainable trade of tropical fish. However, the Banggai cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni, is often available from you and other retailers as a wild caught animal. In 2007 this fish was listed as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). Pterapogon kauderni was listed as a result of declining populations in its already limited range. The decrease in population is due almost solely to the collection of this fish for the aquarium trade.
Because of the threats to this fish, we encourage you, and other fish collectors, retailers, distributors, and hobbyists, to stop the trade of the endangered Pterapogon kauderni. A ban on the trade in this species is also supported since this fish is one of the most easily bred marine fish for the aquarium hobby. So, we urge you to only offer captive bred Banggai cardinalfish for sale. If the collection of this fish does not stop, we will likely face the extinction of this species. The impacts of this possible extinction would be felt far into the marine and freshwater aquarium hobbies. There would likely be an outcry to stop the trade in all wild caught marine and freshwater fishes, a devastating outcome that none of us involved in the aquarium hobby and industry would ever like to see.
In the future, if other common aquarium fish end up being threatened or endangered in the wild, we ask that you also stop the sale of these fishes. Furthermore, at this time you should consider taking action to avoid any possible future catastrophes by adopting practices in which you only purchase and sell fish that have been sustainably harvested or captive bred. An excellent program that provides sustainability certification is run by the Marine Aquarium Council. Adopting these better practices will not only lead better animals in the hobby, but also healthier reefs, better livelihoods for collectors, and a healthier planet.
Most experienced and informed hobbyists already make the decisions to purchase the best available fish. However, when fish such as Pterapogon kauderni are offered from the wild at a relatively low cost, many uninformed hobbyists will make the mistake of purchasing this fish. Once again, we urge you and everyone else you know in the aquarium industry and hobby to immediately stop the trade of the Banggai cardinalfish, Pterapogon kauderni.
Thank you for you time and consideration.
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