Natural rarity places clownfish colour morphs at risk of targeted and opportunistic exploitation in a marine aquarium fishery

Thane A Militz; Simon Foale; Jeff Kinch; Paul C Southgate

doi:10.1051/alr/2018006

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Natural rarity places clownfish colour morphs at risk of targeted and opportunistic exploitation in a marine aquarium fishery

Journal article

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Natural rarity places clownfish colour morphs at risk of targeted and opportunistic exploitation in a marine aquarium fishery

Thane A Militz, Simon Foale, Jeff Kinch and Paul C Southgate

Aquatic Living Resources, Vol.31, 18

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/alr/2018006

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Abstract

aquarium trade

Amphiprion percula

Premnas biaculeatus

Papua New Guinea

management

consumer demand

As fish stocks become depleted, exploitation eventually fails to be cost-efficient. However, species or morphs of species can suffer from continual exploitation if their rarity results in increased value, justifying the cost-efficiency of targeted or opportunistic exploitation. The trade in coral reef fishes for public and private aquaria is an industry in which naturally rare species and rare morphs of species command high prices. Here we investigate the relationship between price and the natural prevalence of colour morphs of two highly demanded clownfish species using a localised case study. The export prices for colour morphs increased with decreasing prevalence of occurrence (y = 4.60x-0.51, R2 = 0.43), but price increase was inversely less than the observed reduction in prevalence. This renders rare colour morphs (i.e., those at relatively low prevalence) at risk of opportunistic exploitation. Using ecological data, we also demonstrate how this increased value can subject rare colour morphs with aggregated distributions to targeted exploitation. These findings are discussed in relation to the broader marine aquarium trade, identifying taxa potentially at risk from exploitation motivated by rarity and addressing potential management strategies.

Details

Title: Natural rarity places clownfish colour morphs at risk of targeted and opportunistic exploitation in a marine aquarium fishery
Authors: Thane A Militz (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research
Simon Foale (Author) - James Cook University
Jeff Kinch (Author) - National Fisheries Authority, Papua New Guinea
Paul C Southgate (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Aquatic Living Resources, Vol.31, 18; 7
Publisher: E D P Sciences
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1051/alr/2018006
ISSN: 1765-2952
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99451330202621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Fisheries; Marine & Freshwater Biology

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