The marine ornamental fish trade in Switzerland and Europe
BORIS DOI
Abstract
Coral reef ecosystems are one of the most biologically rich and diverse environments on the
planet. Unfortunately, coral reefs are at risk from several threats such as global warming and
ocean acidification (Hughes et al., 2017; Gattuso et al., 2014; Hoegh-Guldberg, 2007), and
also from overexploitation, for example, by trade (Baillie et al., 2004). The trade in marine
ornamental fishes originated in the 1930s with a few coral reef fishes being caught to be kept
in aquariums. Today, about 40 million specimens are traded annually and the commerce
expands over at least 50 exporting countries from (mainly) South East Asia, with most
importing countries situated in the Western Hemisphere. This trade involves more than half
the known 4,000 species of coral reef fishes (Rhyne et al., 2017), expands worldwide, and is
worth billions of US$ each year (Leal et al., 2015; Dee et al., 2014; Monticini, 2010; Smith et
al., 2008; Wabnitz et al., 2003). Historically, individual attempts have been conducted to
monitor trade, although no global monitoring systems have emerged.
This dissertation focuses on the marine ornamental fish trade as well as aspects of its
management in Switzerland, Europe and globally, along with impacts on species and the
environment. The monitoring of this trade is challenging because so many species and
specimens are involved, and the supply chain, from wild-capture to the aquarium holder, is
also very extensive (Rhyne et al., 2017; Wabnitz et al., 2003). Almost no relevant fish species
breeds in captivity (Sweet, 2017; Penning et al., 2009), and therefore supply originates from
wild sources, which are coral reefs. Furthermore, there are concerns amongst scientists
regarding the sustainability of this trade, due to the high mortality of specimens in the supply
chain (Stevens et al., 2017; Vagelli, 2011; Wabnitz et al., 2003).
The purpose of this study was to review the existing data on the marine ornamental fish trade
to Switzerland and Europe as well as its global implication. The first study examined
Switzerland's role in the European and the global marine aquarium trade, and provided basic
information on numbers of specimens traded and their diversity by using data from customs
documents from 2009. The second and third studies used electronic data from the European
Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) for the years 2014 to 2017 for Switzerland and
the European Union (EU). TRACES is in use for disease prevention where animal and plants
or their products are imported to Europe. This data produced meaningful information for
imports to Switzerland and the EU, although TRACES is not specifically created to monitor
the marine ornamental fish trade. It was possible to yield useful information on the volumes, diversity and trends in number of fish specimens traded. These studies offered tangible ideas
on how to adapt the TRACES to adequately collect species data.
planet. Unfortunately, coral reefs are at risk from several threats such as global warming and
ocean acidification (Hughes et al., 2017; Gattuso et al., 2014; Hoegh-Guldberg, 2007), and
also from overexploitation, for example, by trade (Baillie et al., 2004). The trade in marine
ornamental fishes originated in the 1930s with a few coral reef fishes being caught to be kept
in aquariums. Today, about 40 million specimens are traded annually and the commerce
expands over at least 50 exporting countries from (mainly) South East Asia, with most
importing countries situated in the Western Hemisphere. This trade involves more than half
the known 4,000 species of coral reef fishes (Rhyne et al., 2017), expands worldwide, and is
worth billions of US$ each year (Leal et al., 2015; Dee et al., 2014; Monticini, 2010; Smith et
al., 2008; Wabnitz et al., 2003). Historically, individual attempts have been conducted to
monitor trade, although no global monitoring systems have emerged.
This dissertation focuses on the marine ornamental fish trade as well as aspects of its
management in Switzerland, Europe and globally, along with impacts on species and the
environment. The monitoring of this trade is challenging because so many species and
specimens are involved, and the supply chain, from wild-capture to the aquarium holder, is
also very extensive (Rhyne et al., 2017; Wabnitz et al., 2003). Almost no relevant fish species
breeds in captivity (Sweet, 2017; Penning et al., 2009), and therefore supply originates from
wild sources, which are coral reefs. Furthermore, there are concerns amongst scientists
regarding the sustainability of this trade, due to the high mortality of specimens in the supply
chain (Stevens et al., 2017; Vagelli, 2011; Wabnitz et al., 2003).
The purpose of this study was to review the existing data on the marine ornamental fish trade
to Switzerland and Europe as well as its global implication. The first study examined
Switzerland's role in the European and the global marine aquarium trade, and provided basic
information on numbers of specimens traded and their diversity by using data from customs
documents from 2009. The second and third studies used electronic data from the European
Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) for the years 2014 to 2017 for Switzerland and
the European Union (EU). TRACES is in use for disease prevention where animal and plants
or their products are imported to Europe. This data produced meaningful information for
imports to Switzerland and the EU, although TRACES is not specifically created to monitor
the marine ornamental fish trade. It was possible to yield useful information on the volumes, diversity and trends in number of fish specimens traded. These studies offered tangible ideas
on how to adapt the TRACES to adequately collect species data.
Date of Publication
2019
Year of graduation
2019
Theses Type
dissertation
Subject(s)
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Biondo, Monica Virginia |
Faculty/Graduate School
Institute
Access(Rights)
open.access
Primary OA Publication
true