Table Of ContentPartnerships for Fostering Ethical, Beneficial and
Sustainable Aquarium Fisheries 2015
Aquarama 2015
Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group
Scott Dowd
IUCN/FFSG/HAFSG Chair
July 2015
Executive Summary 3
The IUCN, FFSG Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group 4
Next Steps and Timeline 7
Aquarama 2015 Session 1 – Round Table Discussion 8
Strategic Development Meeting 30 May 2015 – Outputs 16
Appendix 1: Aquarama 2015 Strategic Development Meeting Pre-Survey 24
Appendix 2: Strategic Development Meeting Commitment and Feedback 32
Executive Summary
At the Aquarama 2015 Seminars held in Singapore May 28 – June 1 the IUCN Freshwater Fishes
Specialist Group worked with the event organizers to convene discussions, panels, and a Strategic
Development Meeting with the goals of developing a framework to maximize environmental and
socioeconomic benefits as an outcome of the home aquarium trade.
In recent years, it has become increasingly clear there is substantial overlap in the shared goals for
environmental and socioeconomic benefits between commercial stakeholders, the
academic/conservation community, and zoos and public aquariums. Leaders in these three groups
convened at Aquarama to discuss shared goals, shared challenges, and how a harmonized strategy may
yield significant benefits to all.
In the not too distant past, these three groups would not necessarily have viewed the others as
partners; in fact, a certain degree of reservation towards each other was not uncommon. The sincere
commitment to collaboration that took place at the Singapore meeting was, itself, a great step forward.
The key perspectives of the three groups at this point can be described through the following examples:
• Industry: Dr. Gerald Bassleer, President of Ornamental Fish International (OFI), expressed
eagerness for trade members to support research on the industry. He also described
intolerance within OFI for poor ethics and unsustainable practices. He saw a great opportunity
to partner with zoos and aquariums to inspire and foster the next generation of responsible
fishkeepers.
• Academic/conservation organizations: Ms. Lynn Tang from Conservation International (CI),
responding to descriptions of how the aquarium trade is being negatively affected by activists in
the EU, shared examples from CI's work that demonstrate to the trade community that CI and
other mainstream scientific/conservation groups are able and ready to work with industry to
redirect and rebrand it as a force for good. These examples were: a) CI’s commitment to
working on opening a legal path for the dragonfish (Scleropages formosus) market in the
US, with recognition that the trade of dragonfish will help to direct funds to the conservation of
the species in situ, and; b) she cited a case study in which CI maintained their partnership
with the SEA Aquarium despite the fact that the aquarium was being attacked by animal rights
groups in protests over dolphins exhibits.
• Public zoos and aquariums: Cindy Lee of the Toronto Zoo (Association of Zoos and Aquariums)
called for increased two-way exchange between the home aquarium trade and zoos and
aquariums in technology and overall strategic planning. Cindy shared that zoos and public
aquariums have approximately 200 million visitors annually and that they represent an ideal
platform for messaging that will reach a broad and relevant population.
The goal of elucidating the shared priorities by the three groups was met. A broad strategic
framework plan was developed, which calls for the Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group to produce a
Consensus Statement and White Paper identifying opportunities to maximize socioeconomic and
environmental benefit from the aquarium hobby, case studies to be showcased and promoted in public
aquariums and zoos, and harmonized and reflective marketing with commercial trade partners, and the
hobby community.
Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group (HAFSG)
About the HAFSG
For decades home aquarium fish have
been collected from regions of biological
importance across the globe. The vast
majority of the organisms in the home
aquarium trade are represented by
freshwater species (90 percent). The home
aquarium fish trade is a large international
market responsible for hundreds of
millions of dollars annually in revenue for
businesses. Although the majority of
freshwater aquarium specimens are
captive-bred and cultured, there are still
fishing communities residing in areas
of biological importance that capture and
export fishes for the global trade. These
Photo: Vincent DiDuca
fisheries are a powerful driver of the local
economies and environmental stewardship
in regions where their collection takes
place. These fisheries face many pressing
issues, including:
• Market competition from ex-situ fish farms
• Public perception pressure on the industry to shift to captive bred stock
• Decline in recruitment of new fish hobbyists and a disconnection with millennials
• Increasing regulations on the importation of wild-captured fishes
• The need to implement Best Handling Practices for wild caught fishes to maximize value and market
competitiveness and minimize fish stress
• The need to develop marketing frameworks to highlight the socioeconomic and environmental benefits
of wild-caught fishes
• The need for solutions that benefit the environment to address unsustainable or destructive practices
• The need to establish fair and equitable distribution of economic benefits
Implementing best practices for the capture and export
of these fishes can provide effective incentives for
communities and workers to fend off other industries and
practices that degrade the environment upon which the
fish depend, resulting in protection for not only the target
species but the entire ecosystem. Many of these regions
that contain marketable species, as well as other species
that may be threatened according to the IUCN Red List,
might not be formally protected by legislation, but they
function as protected areas, as a result of resident-based
stewardship. In important instances in developing
countries, the home aquarium trade has become an
effective instrument for poverty alleviation, conservation
Collecting tetras in Daracua
of remaining areas of biological importance and critically
Photo: Gary Jones, Mars Fishcare
endangered species, as well as conserving global climate
stability.
The HAFSG is composed of, and draws from, its Steering Committee and Advisory Board, which includes
the IUCN’s Specialist Groups, partnering NGOs, leaders in the home aquarium industry, and the public
aquarium and zoo community. Science-based findings towards conservation objectives are conveyed via
zoos, aquariums, and other outlets in a harmonized strategy with commercial partners to achieve shared
goals.
With this in mind, the HAFSG has been created with several goals, which include:
• To identify, validate, and promote the conservation and wise management of wild populations of
tropical fishes that are part of the home aquarium trade, as well as the ecosystems where they are found
• To support sustainable, socioeconomic, and environmental benefits for home aquarium fishing
communities, especially living in regions of biological importance
• To develop and implement solutions that result in the most robust market for home aquarium fishes
that promote environmental stewardship, poverty alleviation, and climate stability.
Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group (HAFSG)
Steering Committee
Scott Dowd Deb Joyce Bernardo Ortiz Devin Bartley
IUCN FFSG Home Aquarium IUCN FFSG Home Aquarium WWF/TRAFFIC. Regional Food and Agriculture
Fish Sub---group. Chair Fish Sub---group. Program Director, South America Organization. Senior Fishery
Officer Resources Officer
Randy Brummett Rosie Cooney Paul Boyle Sandra Elvin
World Bank. Senior Chair. IUCN SULi: Sustainable Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Association of Zoos and
Fisheries Specialist Use and Livelihoods Specialist Aquariums. Senior Vice President, Director, Conservation
(Aquaculture & Inland Group Conservation R & D and Policy Research and Policy
Fisheries) Development
Tim Miller Morgan Chris Andrews Kira Husher Marshall Meyers
Oregon Sea Grant. Lead, Merlin Entertainment. Head, IUCN. Director Specialist Pet Industry Joint Advisory
Aquatic Animal Health Animal Welfare and Group Partnerships Council.Senior Advisor
Program Development--- US
Gerald Bassleer Keith Davenport John Dawes Mike Tuccinardi
Ornamental Fish International. Ornamental Aquatic Freelance Author. Editor and Freelance Author. Editor
President Trade Association, Chief International Ornamental and International
Executive Aquatic Industry Consultant Aquarium Industry
Consultant
Partnerships for Fostering Ethical, Beneficial and Sustainable Aquarium Fisheries
Aquarama 2015
Next steps and timeline include:
• June 19, 2015: Open commentary and review on a) the Aquarama meeting report, and
b), the overall strategy of the HAFSG to identify beneficial case studies and
opportunities associated with the trade, which can be used to showcase positive
examples at zoos and public aquariums in a way to foster a market for aquarium fishes
that are sustainable, benefit the environment, and help support local livelihoods.
• Ongoing: The HAFSG Steering Committee (SC) maintains dialogue with the broader
working group of stakeholders within the aquarium fish trade, the
scientific/conservation community, and zoos and public aquariums.
• July 15, 2015: The HAFSG SC will produce a Consensus Statement comprising points
of agreement in regard to fostering environmental and socioeconomic benefits from
the aquarium fish trade.
• September 1, 2015: The HAFSG SC will produce a first draft White Paper describing
examples of where the home aquarium fish trade currently results in environmental
and/or socioeconomic benefit, where through attainable adaptation it could result in
benefit, and where there is the urgent need for environmental stewardship or
livelihoods that could be attained from the aquarium trade.
• Ongoing: Work with trade groups such as Ornamental Fish International (OFI),
Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA), and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory
Council (PIJAC) to seek examples that might be included in the HAFSG White Paper.
• AZA National Conference, Sept 2015: Advance an industry-wide initiative for zoos and
aquariums to showcase examples from the HAFSG White Paper in their exhibits and
programs. This initiative should highlight conservation themes, while encouraging
visitors to enter the fishkeeping hobby and seek fishes that have been sourced in
ways that result in beneficial outcomes.
• Ongoing: Plan development meetings at venues where working group members are
likely to convene: AZA, EUAC, RAW, Aquatic Experience, Interzoo, Aquarama, etc.
Aquarama 2015
SEnegasges, Inifoluennc e1 an d– C oRllabooruaten: Mdax iTmiazinbg lthee SyDneirgsiecs ouf tshes Piuoblicn
M oderator:
and Home Aquarium Industries
John Dawes, Freelance author, editor and international ornamental aquatic
industry consultant
Panelists:
- Dr. Rob Jones, The Aquarium Vet, Australia; Consultant to Sea Life
Aquariums in Australia and New Zealand
- Mr. Scott Dowd, Special Adviser to the AZA on Aquarium Fisheries, US
- Mr. Ramon Barbosa Costas, Senior Curator, RWS – S.E.A. Aquarium,
Singapore
- Dr. Gerald Bassleer, President, Ornamental Fish International (OFI)
- Mr. Svein Fosså, President, European Pet Trade Organization; Secretary
General, Norwegian Pet Trade Association
- Mr. Lyle Squire Jnr, Director, Cairns Marine, Australia; President, Provision
Reef, Australia
- Mr. Keith Davenport, Chief Executive, Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association
(OATA), UK
OVERVIEW ON LOGIC FOR HAVING PUBLIC AQUARIA AT THIS YEAR’S
DIALOGUE
- The ornamental fish industry supplies both the public aquaria and home
aquaria sectors
- It is logical to launch a joint venture between the trade and the public
aquaria
- As far as known, this is the first venture where members from both
industries are gathered together to collaborate
NOTES FROM PARTICIPANTS’ COMMENTS ON SUSTAINABLE
HARVESTING FOR PUBLIC AND HOME AQUARIA
- Public aquaria’s point of view → conservation should be promoted
Sustainability and conservation from collection of animals from the
o
wild
SEA Aquarium trying to identify suppliers that sustainably collect
o
their animals, either being regulated by the supplier itself with its
own code of conduct or ethical moral compass, or by government
regulations
However, most public aquaria face the problem of it being hard to
o
find these suppliers
But SEA Aquarium, for one, is definitely still trying to divert its
o
suppliers from unsustainable ones to sustainable ones → in hope
that the unsustainable suppliers will eventually face declining
business, and be forced to become sustainable to meet the new
market demand
- Public aquaria’s point of view → yes, indeed, sustainable harvesting is
possible
But the reality is that, unfortunately, many public aquaria do not
o
stop to think, or have access to supply chain information to know if
their organisms come from sustainable fisheries
Another unfortunate reality is that sustainability can be more
o
expensive
Indeed, public aquaria need to stop and analyze these fisheries to
o
make sure that they are sustainable
Public aquaria, as institutions that should promote conservation,
o
have the obligation to ask the hard questions and go the extra step
in terms of funding to maintain sustainability
- There are some public aquaria that are doing so, but the sad truth is that
the majority still do not do so.
- Public aquaria may actually be somewhat distant from the trade itself
Their primary job is to stock and maintain the exhibits, and those
o
working in the aquaria may not be clear about the trade
Public aquaria need to be educated on the need to delve deep and
o
question where the fish are coming from, and check that they are
sustainably supplied
Public aquaria are in a fantastic position to promote conservation and
o
the idea of sustainability
Visitors to public aquaria are there because they love fish, and
are willing to spend their disposable income on seeing the fish
At the same time, on the technical level, the aquaria have the
capacity to do so – e.g. aquaria have the space to look into the
possibility of breeding of fish. If this can be achieved in exhibits in
aquaria, maybe there’s a possibility to extend the concept to reef
side communities. There is vast possibility for new technology to
be developed
- There is definitely possibility for sustainability
But we must bring it down to the final consumers. The consumers are
o
the ones to generate change in the industry, and a key group of these
consumers can be visitors to public aquaria
- The tone of the discussion has been quite negative so far. We need to be more
positive
The home aquarium fish industry has been around for many
o
years.
The very fact that we can sit here at this round table discussion and
o
publicly assess what we have done wrong is positive
We should not constantly beat ourselves up; we are definitely not a
o
perfect industry, but there isn’t a perfect industry, and we should be
proud of what we have come to achieve
- We don’t want to fall into a trap of believing that there is sustainable and
unsustainable, one participant noted and stated:
There is no such thing as being able to achieve perfect
o
sustainability
There are many pressure groups that are looking to attack us, but we
o
should not let ourselves be vulnerable and easy prey
We are not solving the issue by completely exchanging wild-harvested
o
fish with captive-bred fish. By doing so, other sustainability issues may
arise
Don’t go down the road of having no wild-caught fish, and relying completely on
captive breeding as there are massive ambushes [potential for backlash if it is perceived
that ex-situ production is done to the detriment (socioeconomic or environmental) of the region of
origin of the species] down the road
We have to remember that the home aquarium fishery industry is not
o
as bad as it may be made out to be; even with wild-harvested fish,
we’re not killing everything that we’re taking out
- Both the ornamental fish trade and public aquaria are under attack
We can just look at the Blackfish documentary for a clear example
o
One participant stated that we should be proactive and not just
o
reactive. Can we be on the front foot if we are reacting to public
outcry?
Suggestion from the floor → from the home and public
o
aquaria point of view, the consumer needs an easy way to
make a choice. The decision-making time frame is only a few
seconds.
Since the power to make the decisions lies with the consumers, we
o
should make it easy for the consumers to make the sustainable
choice
- The key question should be → How do we know if it’s sustainable? We need
to fill the gap in knowledge here
It’s about the capacity to trace the fish to its origin, where it
o
comes from. We need a process of certification to track and
trace
To encourage people to do the right thing, to harvest sustainably,
o
we need to reward them. But to determine who these people are so
as to give them the appropriate awards, we need certification
The industry could possibly revisit the Marine Aquarium
o
Council standards
Description:endangered species, as well as conserving global climate and/or socioeconomic benefit, where through attainable adaptation it could result in visitors to enter the fishkeeping hobby and seek fishes that have been sourced in.
