International Trade of Coral Reef Species:A Key Issue for ICRI

Barbara BestU.S. Agency for International Development

• Overview of international trade and coral reefsOverview of international trade and coral reefs

• CITES - corals and coral products

• CITES COP and upcoming issues

• ICRI’s involvement in trade issues• International

• Ethical concerns - wild animal and pet trade

• Largely unregulated trade; illegal, unreported

Contribution of International Contribution of International TradeTrade

to Coral Reef Crisis to Coral Reef Crisis

Over 90% of reefs are missing some species Over 90% of reefs are missing some species of high economic value (Reef Check)of high economic value (Reef Check)

Overfishing and Destructive Fishing are Overfishing and Destructive Fishing are principal threats to reefs in SE Asia - principal threats to reefs in SE Asia - Indonesia, Philippines (WRI Reefs at Risk)Indonesia, Philippines (WRI Reefs at Risk)

Localized depletion of major groups, rare Localized depletion of major groups, rare animals animals

Impacts on remote reefs Impacts on remote reefs

Major Issues • Trade drives destructive and over-fishing

- Use of poisons (cyanide) - Removal of reef base (live rock), essential fish habitat - Unsustainable collection, targeted groups, rare animals - Ecosystem impacts

• Collecting from deeper reefs

• Expanding ornamental trade, commercial uses- home, office, restaurant, public aquaria

• Ethical concerns - wild animal and pet trade

• Largely unregulated trade; illegal, unreported

Socio-economic Consequences Socio-economic Consequences of Destructive/Unsustainable of Destructive/Unsustainable

Fishing Fishing

Reduces value of reefs to local communitiesReduces value of reefs to local communities

Threatens food security and livelihoodsThreatens food security and livelihoods

Few incentives for long-term sustainable use:Few incentives for long-term sustainable use:- highly mobile, few benefits for communities- highly mobile, few benefits for communities

Health impacts on divers/collectors:Health impacts on divers/collectors:- paralysis/death from the “bends”- paralysis/death from the “bends”- paralysis in 20% of divers, 4% mortality- paralysis in 20% of divers, 4% mortality

Trade is Driven by “Consumer” Trade is Driven by “Consumer” DemandDemand

“To buy or not to buy,

To import or not to import, To collect or not to collect, These are some of the questions.”

Exporting and importing countries

share responsibility

International Trade

Live food fish trade Live food fish trade to Asian markets to Asian marketsMedicinal/food trades Medicinal/food trades

Marine ornamental trade Marine ornamental trade to U.S. markets to U.S. markets

U.S. major consumer for aquarium tradeU.S. major consumer for aquarium trade- live coral, marine fishes, live rock - live coral, marine fishes, live rock

U.S. major consumer for curio, jewelry tradeU.S. major consumer for curio, jewelry trade- coral skeletons, precious corals, shells- coral skeletons, precious corals, shells

Global Trade Analysis by WCMC:Global Marine Aquarium Database

• 20 - 24 Million fish in trade each year– 1,470 species– Major exporters = Philippines, Indonesia, Solomon Islands,

Sri Lanka– Major importers = U.S., EU, Japan

• 11 - 12 Million corals in trade each year– 140 species stony corals each year, 60 species of soft corals– Major exporters = Indonesia, Fiji– Major importers = U.S., EU, Japan, Canada

0

100

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400

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Vol

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1988 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 1998

OtherCanadaAsiaEuropeUnited States

Trade in Live Coral: Importing CountriesU.S. imports:

~ 80% of all live corals.

~ 95% of the “live rock”

~ 50% (8 million) marine aquarium fish per year.

~ Concerns: over fishing, cyanide, handling, transport practices.

U.S. Role in Aquarium Trade

U.S. Efforts to Address U.S. Efforts to Address International Trade ImpactsInternational Trade Impacts

Promote awareness/action in international arenaPromote awareness/action in international arena

Reduce use of poisons Reduce use of poisons

Reduce spread of cyanide use - East Africa, Pacific Reduce spread of cyanide use - East Africa, Pacific

Strengthen management, enforcement capacityStrengthen management, enforcement capacity

Strengthen environmental awareness and changeStrengthen environmental awareness and change

Development assistance to 25 countries, $40 M/yrDevelopment assistance to 25 countries, $40 M/yr

Development assistance undermined by Development assistance undermined by economic incentives of tradeeconomic incentives of trade

ICRI Decision, November 2003

• Mandate of Trade Working Group:Mandate of Trade Working Group:

- Explore opportunities to highlight coral reef fishery - Explore opportunities to highlight coral reef fishery issues at 10th ICRSissues at 10th ICRS

- Examine opportunities for ICRI to engage in CITES - Examine opportunities for ICRI to engage in CITES coral reef trade issuescoral reef trade issues

- Examine role and responsibilities of Working Group- Examine role and responsibilities of Working Group

Mandate 1: Highlight Coral Reef Fishery Issues at 10th ICRS

• Mini-symposia proposed and organized:Mini-symposia proposed and organized:

- “New Approaches to Sustaining Coral Reef Ecosystems - “New Approaches to Sustaining Coral Reef Ecosystems and their Fisheries” - Tom Hourigan, NOAAand their Fisheries” - Tom Hourigan, NOAA

- “Addressing Sustainability of the Ornamental Coral Reef - “Addressing Sustainability of the Ornamental Coral Reef Species Trade” - Andy Bruckner, NOAA Species Trade” - Andy Bruckner, NOAA

- “Sustainable Use of Coral Reef Resources” - “Sustainable Use of Coral Reef Resources” - Barbara Best, USAID- Barbara Best, USAID

Mandate 2: Explore Opportunities for ICRI to Engage in CITES Issues

• Upcoming coral reef proposals at CITES COP:

• Delist coral rock and coral substrate (not live rock)

• List humphead wrasse on Appendix II

• Use universal minimum size (10 cm) for seahorses

• Extend deadline for analyzing international trade in sea cucumbers

-> Proposed International Trade Resolution

Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES)

Aims to regulate trade in threatened and endangered species for protection of species and role in ecosystem

Species should be listed if:- trade exceeds that level that can be continued

- trade is reducing population so that other threats may affect them

- trade impacts its role in ecosystem

No trade for species on Appendix I

Non-detriment finding for species on Appendix II: - maintain population of species throughout its range,

- maintain level that is consistent with its role in the ecosystem

CITES and Corals

International concern about level and impact of trade on corals lead to listing of corals and coral products in 80’s

- coral sand, rock, substrate, rubble

Appendix II listing of corals helped Philippines and other countries control illegal exports of corals and coral products, protect their reefs

All stony corals listed through “look alike” clause

Recently, coral sand and small coral rubble delisted

- Now, no monitoring or regulation of these products

International Trade Continues

Aquarium trade continues to increase by 10-30% per yr

Trade in live corals increased 400% since 1988

Trade in live reef rock increased 1700% since 1988

Over 2000 species estimated to be in trade - most are not listed on CITES

Over 400 coral reef species have been identified as inappropriate species for aquaria

–do not survive well in aquaria or are highly poisonous

CITES and Fossil Coral

• CITES does not cover fossil specimens

• Are coral products “fossils”? Skeletal reef base

• UK commissioned study to define coral fossil – Study recommended that coral products which were “buried” be called

“fossil”– “Burial” could be by covering of coralline algae

• Objections to proposed “fossil” definition:– No change in material (lithification, mineralization)– Products still have functional role in ecosystem, habitat

• No consensus on definition within Coral Working Group

Recommendations of Coral Working Group, April 2004

• Since no consensus on definition of fossil coral, recommended that…

• Coral products be defined based upon packaging:– “Coral substrate” if shipped submerged in seawater– “Coral rock” if shipped dry– “Live rock” if shipped moist

• Coral rock and coral substrate be considered as fossils and exempt from CITES

• Live rock remain on Appendix II

U.S. Concerns over Recommendations of Coral Working Group

• Definition is based upon “packaging” of product– Only separate treatment of animal specimens in CITES that is

based on product description and packaging methods

• U.S. CITES Enforcement Authority sees enforcement problems:

– Definition will provide opportunities to circumvent the intent of CITES by shipping “live rock” dry and reconstituting it later

– Already seeing increase in shipments of coral rock

• May lead to further increase in trade and degradation of coral reefs

Poster Abstract at 10th ICRS

• “An Evaluation of the Live Rock Fishery and its Consequences” - Samasoni Sauni, Mecki Kronen , Aliti Vunisea, Lilian Fay Sauni

• Coral and coral reef fisheries were investigated in Fiji for localized ecological effects of live rock fishery.

• Study found significant differences in habitat health between target and non-targeted biotopes of extraction areas.

• Study found species-specific impacts on coralline algae feeders.

• Socioeconomic implications of the trade suggest short-term cash benefits enjoyed by just a few participating households.

Mandate 3: Examine Potential Role and Responsibility of Trade Working Group

• Yes, need for Trade Working Group• Ongoing Discussions…

Protecting Reefs,Conserving Biodiversity,

Helping People

Potential Solutions:Potential Solutions:Importing CountriesImporting Countries

Assist source countries on achieving effective Assist source countries on achieving effective management, institutional strengtheningmanagement, institutional strengthening

Create market incentives by shifting theCreate market incentives by shifting the “ “burden of proof” of sustainable useburden of proof” of sustainable use

- Burden to prove that no harm done by those who profit- Burden to prove that no harm done by those who profit

- Importing countries can use - Importing countries can use creative trade measures andcreative trade measures and require self-certification byrequire self-certification by importersimporters

Potential Solutions: Exporting Potential Solutions: Exporting CountriesCountries

Require management plan before Require management plan before allowing collection and export of any allowing collection and export of any speciesspecies- we can not keep up with shifting trade - we can not keep up with shifting trade

Promote use of individual “concessions” Promote use of individual “concessions” - strong stewardship incentive- strong stewardship incentive

Establish cyanide testing facilitiesEstablish cyanide testing facilities- require random fish testing, paid by export - require random fish testing, paid by export

feesfees Explore use of replenishment reservesExplore use of replenishment reserves

- “Hawaii” major exporter of aquarium fish- “Hawaii” major exporter of aquarium fish

Potential Solution: Mariculture Freshwater aquaria: Freshwater aquaria:

~ 2% wild, ~ 2% wild, 98% cultured 98% cultured

Marine aquaria: Marine aquaria: ~ 98% wild,~ 98% wild, 2% cultured 2% cultured

Replace wild animals with mariculturedReplace wild animals with maricultured- only allow maricultured animals- only allow maricultured animals

Promote mariculture in source countryPromote mariculture in source country- ensure benefits to local communities- ensure benefits to local communities- prevent release of exotic - prevent release of exotic or invasive animals, diseasesor invasive animals, diseases

Potential Solutions? Potential Solutions? Fish Replenishment Areas in Fish Replenishment Areas in

HawaiiHawaii Top ten aquarium fish species Top ten aquarium fish species 59% over 20 years 59% over 20 years

- fish collection increased 67%, 1993-1995- fish collection increased 67%, 1993-1995 Fish replenishment areas, west side of Big Island Fish replenishment areas, west side of Big Island

- 30% of collection area set aside as no-take- 30% of collection area set aside as no-take

Area not sufficient for sustainabilityArea not sufficient for sustainability

Explore setting aside higher area as reservesExplore setting aside higher area as reserves Explore use of individual concession areasExplore use of individual concession areas Restrict collection to shallow waters Restrict collection to shallow waters

What Can You Do to Help Protect Reefs?

• Become an informed, responsible consumer and educate others on the impacts of overfishing

• Promote scientific analysis and synthesis of appropriate species and levels of collection:– Determine “guidelines” for collection: limits, species

• Recommend more sustainable trade approaches and policies, demonstration of sustainability

• Recommend that non-sustainable animals and products, and inappropriate animals, be removed from trade