missy1101
11/07/2003, 09:11 PM
NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program FY2004 Pre-Proposals - International
Project Name: Address unsustainable trade in live rock
Location: International
An assessment of live rock resources and the sustainability of current harvest practices in Fiji, with the development of management recommendations for the government of Fiji.
Live rock exports for the aquarium trade are currently regulated through an Appendix II listing in CITES which requires that an exporting country provide CITES export permits for each shipment that demonstrate that the organism in trade was legally acquired and that the harvest will not be detrimental to the survival of the species or its role in the ecosystem. Fiji is currently the largest source of wild harvested live rock, with a trade that has doubled each year since 1997 and a total export of nearly 2 million kg in 2001, of which about 85% was destined for the U.S. The CITES Secretariat has expressed concern about the rapidly increasing trade in coral from Fiji, along with insufficient national legislation to implement CITES and an apparent lack of resource management strategy to ensure non-detriment. In 2002 the International Marinelife Alliance began a project to quantify the extent of live rock harvest and impact to and to make recommendations that ensure harvest is sustainable. In the second phase, IMA would continue the evaluation of the sustainability of live rock harvest including environmental impacts such as potential effects of erosion, flooding and storm surge on coastal communities; socio-economics of the trade; impact and benefits of alternative sources of live rock (material manufactured from rubble and cement and seeded on the sea floor), and management scenarios that will ensure sustainable harvest. information will be provided to the Fiji government, who is currently developing a management plan for harvest and export of coral reef resources to meet CITES obligations.
Project: Analysis of U.S. Ornamental Reef Fish Imports
Location: International
Analysis of the global trends in ornamental reef fish imports into the U.S. by species and location.
This project will provide information on the diversity, abundance, source and trends in U.S. imports of ornamental reef fish. An estimated 15-20 million ornamental reef fish are harvested for marine aquaria each year, with over 60% imported by the U.S. The U.S. demand for these species may be contributing to overexploitation of certain rare or high value species, and increased use of cyanide. However, it has been difficult to ascertain the origin or the volume of particular species. Most exporting countries do not record detailed information on ornamental reef fish exports. Also, the U.S. currently lumps all tropical freshwater and marine species, including wild-harvested and captive bred fishes in one category - ornamental reef fish. In FY 2001, NMFS supported the analysis of one month of declaration forms and the development of an ornamental reef fish database. These data provide a snapshot of U.S. ornamental reef fish imports, but the volume and type of fish in trade vary by month and source country depending on weather, seasonal demand, and availability of certain species that do not recruit throughout the year. An analysis of a full year of imports will allow NMFS to evaluate the sustainability of the trade and identify certain species of concern that may need additional protective measures to prevent overexploitation.
Project: Monitoring, Verification, and Testing of Marine Aquarium Fish For The Presence of Cyanide
Location: International
Implement a regional approach to conduct random sampling of marine ornamental fishes for the presence of cyanide through development and implementation of cyanide detection laboratories in the Philippines (base of activities) and other countries (Malaysia and Indonesia).
A large proportion of marine ornamental fishes imported from the IndoPacific into the U.S. are caught using cyanide, which has been demonstrated to cause mortality to non-target fishes, corals and other invertebrates and is also responsible for high mortality during collection and transport. Cyanide detection facilities (CDT)in the exporting country currently are the only mechanism available to verify that fishes are cyanide free, but these formerly existed only in the Philippines. Unfortunately, there has been insufficient funding available to operate these facilities and fish are no longer tested for cyanide. This project would be a pilot program to implement a regional approach to CDT detection, with the Philippines serving as a base of operations and additional facilities in other countries where governments have requested assistance (Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia). The International Marinelife Alliance would be responsible for establishing the facilities and providing training to appropriate government agencies, with the goal of turning over operations of the facility to local resource management agencies. Unlike previous efforts focused in the Philippines, this represents a regional approach that would benefit all of the major coral reef fish exporting nations and could be linked to MAC certification.
Please post any concerns, as it is known that NOAA members monitor this site and our input is needed also on these matters.
Project Name: Address unsustainable trade in live rock
Location: International
An assessment of live rock resources and the sustainability of current harvest practices in Fiji, with the development of management recommendations for the government of Fiji.
Live rock exports for the aquarium trade are currently regulated through an Appendix II listing in CITES which requires that an exporting country provide CITES export permits for each shipment that demonstrate that the organism in trade was legally acquired and that the harvest will not be detrimental to the survival of the species or its role in the ecosystem. Fiji is currently the largest source of wild harvested live rock, with a trade that has doubled each year since 1997 and a total export of nearly 2 million kg in 2001, of which about 85% was destined for the U.S. The CITES Secretariat has expressed concern about the rapidly increasing trade in coral from Fiji, along with insufficient national legislation to implement CITES and an apparent lack of resource management strategy to ensure non-detriment. In 2002 the International Marinelife Alliance began a project to quantify the extent of live rock harvest and impact to and to make recommendations that ensure harvest is sustainable. In the second phase, IMA would continue the evaluation of the sustainability of live rock harvest including environmental impacts such as potential effects of erosion, flooding and storm surge on coastal communities; socio-economics of the trade; impact and benefits of alternative sources of live rock (material manufactured from rubble and cement and seeded on the sea floor), and management scenarios that will ensure sustainable harvest. information will be provided to the Fiji government, who is currently developing a management plan for harvest and export of coral reef resources to meet CITES obligations.
Project: Analysis of U.S. Ornamental Reef Fish Imports
Location: International
Analysis of the global trends in ornamental reef fish imports into the U.S. by species and location.
This project will provide information on the diversity, abundance, source and trends in U.S. imports of ornamental reef fish. An estimated 15-20 million ornamental reef fish are harvested for marine aquaria each year, with over 60% imported by the U.S. The U.S. demand for these species may be contributing to overexploitation of certain rare or high value species, and increased use of cyanide. However, it has been difficult to ascertain the origin or the volume of particular species. Most exporting countries do not record detailed information on ornamental reef fish exports. Also, the U.S. currently lumps all tropical freshwater and marine species, including wild-harvested and captive bred fishes in one category - ornamental reef fish. In FY 2001, NMFS supported the analysis of one month of declaration forms and the development of an ornamental reef fish database. These data provide a snapshot of U.S. ornamental reef fish imports, but the volume and type of fish in trade vary by month and source country depending on weather, seasonal demand, and availability of certain species that do not recruit throughout the year. An analysis of a full year of imports will allow NMFS to evaluate the sustainability of the trade and identify certain species of concern that may need additional protective measures to prevent overexploitation.
Project: Monitoring, Verification, and Testing of Marine Aquarium Fish For The Presence of Cyanide
Location: International
Implement a regional approach to conduct random sampling of marine ornamental fishes for the presence of cyanide through development and implementation of cyanide detection laboratories in the Philippines (base of activities) and other countries (Malaysia and Indonesia).
A large proportion of marine ornamental fishes imported from the IndoPacific into the U.S. are caught using cyanide, which has been demonstrated to cause mortality to non-target fishes, corals and other invertebrates and is also responsible for high mortality during collection and transport. Cyanide detection facilities (CDT)in the exporting country currently are the only mechanism available to verify that fishes are cyanide free, but these formerly existed only in the Philippines. Unfortunately, there has been insufficient funding available to operate these facilities and fish are no longer tested for cyanide. This project would be a pilot program to implement a regional approach to CDT detection, with the Philippines serving as a base of operations and additional facilities in other countries where governments have requested assistance (Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia). The International Marinelife Alliance would be responsible for establishing the facilities and providing training to appropriate government agencies, with the goal of turning over operations of the facility to local resource management agencies. Unlike previous efforts focused in the Philippines, this represents a regional approach that would benefit all of the major coral reef fish exporting nations and could be linked to MAC certification.
Please post any concerns, as it is known that NOAA members monitor this site and our input is needed also on these matters.