Banggai Cardinalfish: Population and Collection Statistics (Part 2)
A school of Banggai cardinals hovers above a protective anemone in the Lembeh Strait where the species has been introduced. March 2007.
In the previous segment, we took a look at the how the natural history and geographic isolation of the Banggai Cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni) makes it an unusual and unique shallow water ornamental marine fish species. In this segment we will examine the population and collection statistics, the collectors, and the peripheral impacts…
Population:
Scientist Alejandro Vagelli from the New Jersey Academy of Aquatic Sciences has been studying the Banggai cardinalfish over the past decade. In that time he has studied all of the sub-populations of these fish in and around the Banggai Islands. Currently, he estimates that the total population within their natural range is approximately 2.2 million fish. He also estimates that up to 1 million Banggais are collected each year for the aquarium trade.
Collection:
Dr. Vagelli estimates that there are less than 100 active Banggai cardinal collectors at work in Indonesia.
For instance, around Banggai Island, there are about 20 collectors, who catch a combined total around 35,000 fish per month. Fish are then transported to the city of Manado on the north east tip of Sulawesi. There is a reported 25% mortality of the fish in transit to Manado with an additional 15% of fish being rejected by exporters due to poor health. There are 3 or 4 main buyers of these fish in North Sulawesi.
On Bangkura Island there are about 15 collectors who catch a total of 15,000 Banggai cardinals each month. These fish are shipped to either Manado or South Sulawesi with 25% mortality in transit.
On Bokan Island there are about 20 collectors that catch 15,000-20,000 fish per month. These fish are transported to Bali with combined mortality/rejection of about 30%.
Due to the recent “discovery” of this fish, we don’t have a good estimate of the historical population size. However, there is one Banggai population that has been protected within the boundaries of a commercial pearl farm. And based on the population density of Banggais found there (around 0.6 fish per square meter), a historical total population size has been estimated at roughly 20 million fish. This represents a 90% total reduction in overall population since collection for the ornamental trade began. Vagelli reports at least 2 localized population extinctions. Currently, the population density of this fish is now roughly 0.08 fish per square meter within their natural range.
Dr. Alejandro Vagelli presented this poster at the International Coral Reef Symposium detailing the imminent threat to the Banggai cardinalfish.
Non-native introduction: A collateral impact of the widespread collection and trade of the Banggai cardinalfish is that these fish have actually been introduced outside of their natural range throughout Indonesia.
The Banggai cardinal is firmly established in the Lembeh Strait on the extreme north-east tip of Sulawesi. According to Scott Michael, the fish was first noted in the Lembeh Strait in 1998. When I visited in 2007, the Banggai was prevalent on most of the shallow-water dive sites near shore.
Bali is another place that seems to host several recently introduced population of Banggais. In 2006, I noticed several small colonies living amongst the Diadema sp. urchins that live in “Secret Bay” near Gillimanuk on the western edge of the island. Secret Bay is characterized by being small, muddy and protected. It is also adjacent to a “Fish Quarantine” facility that is supposed to screen fish arriving in Bali from Java and elsewhere. It is possible that these fish were released as nearly-DOA or sick individuals that were deemed unfit for sale or import.
Over-collection of high value ornamental fish around Bali has caused a number of Bali-based collectors to travel much further afield in search of these fish. These “roving” collectors will go out on trips of 10-14 days in length, which enables them to reach the waters of Sulawesi and the Banggai Islands. The boats that these fishermen use are very rustic outrigger “jukungs” The very nature of these trips are cause for concern, as even if the fish are being net caught, they are subjected to confinement in plastic bags without food for the duration of the trip.
Several “jukung” boats on shore in Bali, similiar boats are used for long forays out to sea by roving ornamental collectors.
Subsequently, many fish are discarded if they are dead or appear unhealthy. Of course, an unhealthy fish is capable of surviving upon release. And therefore, it is likely that wherever roving collectors/buyers travel with Banggai cardinalfish, new Banggai populations could be springing up. This is clearly the case with both the Lembeh and Bali populations. These areas are well explored by commercial scuba operations, so the populations are well documented. It is likely that there are probably other unknown populations throughout Indonesia yet to be “discovered”.
Of course, as Vagelli pointed out to me when I asked him about the introduced populations, in the grand scheme of the overall Banggai cardinal population, they represent but a minute fraction of it. Based on the numbers I observed, it would only take a day or two to clean out Secret Bay. The Lembeh population appears much more established, and not likely to be eradicated easily . The fact that both these areas are popular with commercial dive operations, likely protects them from intense ornamental collection pressures. It remains a question mark what sort of ecological impact these introduced populations might have on the native biota. It is unlikely that they will have the same impact as the lionfish introduction into the Western Atlantic, but nonetheless the situation is not ideal.
Supply, Demand, and Mortality:
Because Banggai cardinalfish are so easy to collect (considerably easier than say an angelfish or even a damselfish), their inherent value at the export level is minimal. A Banggai collector is not likely to make much more than $0.02-$0.03 for each fish. Due to their cheapness, they are not handled with the same level of care as higher value fish. However, it wasn’t always this way. As previously mentioned, Banggais once used to fetch in excess of $100 per fish in the mid 1990′s. When the fish were valuable, they were treated with more respect and care throughout the chain of handling. Nowadays, Banggais are shipped and handled in massive quantities. This change in priority level, is perhaps responsible for the spread of an unknown viral pathogen that results in considerable mortality during handling and shipment. When any animal is held in extremely dense confinement, the spread of disease is greatly increased. At one time the Banggai was considered a hardy aquarium fish, and now it has a shoddy track record at best within the first few weeks of introduction into the reef aquarium. It is not uncommon for entire import shipments to land DOA. All of this seems to have set up a negative feedback loop. Knowing the recent track record of low surviorship, it is understandable that shop owners and aquarists are hesitant to purchase more expensive wild-caught (and better handled) Banggais. By the time they reach US retail stores, it is nearly impossible to discern what sort of quality handling they have received over their long journey. Therefore, as long as the supply remains unfettered and the prices stay low ($20-$25), we probably won’t be seeing a vast improvement in quality with regards to these fish without a significant sea change.
Aquaculture as an alternative: Perhaps what is most disappointing about the Banggai cardinalfish situation, is that of all the ornamental saltwater fish, it is likely the easiest to spawn and rear in captivity. With the fathers doing the parenting, and direct development of the babies into artemia-eating juveniles, it would seem that the Banggai would be as much of an aquacultured staple as the ocellaris clownfish. However, the major downside to raising Banggais in captivity is the small number of eggs in each brood. At this point, it just isn’t competitive to offer captive raised fish to wholesale and retail outlets when their wild-caught counterparts are arriving by the tens of thousands each month at bargain basement prices.
The major argument that was poised to counter the listing of the Banggai cardinal on CITES schedule II, was that there would be a severe economic impact upon the isolated communities in the Banggai Islands. This threat is likely over-exaggerated. For one, the Banggai cardinal fishery is relatively new in the history of Indonesian fishing practices. Furthermore, there are so few Banggai collectors (<100) as compared to the overall human population of the islands. It would take little effort from an NGO or the Indonesian government to help these folks either find an alternative fishery, or even help to establish in-situ aquaculture farms. Unfortunately, this requires the sort of oversight that is currently lacking within Indonesia by all parties.
Another shot of a Banggai cardinal in an elegance coral (Catalyphyllia jardinei) Lembeh Strait, Indonesia 2007
Conclusion: Dr. Alejandro Vagelli and other researchers have clearly shown that the Banggai cardinal population is extremely vulnerable to extinction. If aquarists’ attitudes and understanding remains the same, and imports continue unchanged, it is entirely too likely that we will see the extirpation of this beautiful species in the wild within the next decade. As far as I know, this would represent the first such species that the marine ornamental hobby would be responsible for decimating. We can’t let this happen to this beautiful fish; the reputation of the marine aquarium community depends on it. Our hobby walks a razor’s edge in the eyes of the public. We have much to offer in the way of environmental understanding and scientific discovery, but we also carry just as much risk and responsibility as agents of environmental degradation. As we walk this razor’s edge, we must be constantly aware of our impacts and choose the high road whenever possible. Should we be responsible for the extinction of this unique ornamental species, it will forever be held against us in the eyes of the world, and it will (and just maybe should) be used against us in the court of public opinion. But just as this scenario poses potentially dire consequences for our hobby, it can just as easily be turned into a public relations boon should we all band together and do the right thing: Be aware, spread the word, stop buying wild-caught Banggais from your local fish store, and let them know why you are not buying them. Instead, buy locally raised, captive-bred fish from a member of your reef club. Be willing to pay a few more dollars for a healthier fish, and be proud of it. Better yet, breed your own and save a species!
