Monitoring the trade in marine ornamental fishes through the European Trade Control and Expert System TRACES: Challenges and possibilities

• Published in: Marine policy Vol. 108; p. 103620
• Main Authors: Biondo, Monica V., Burki, Rainer P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2019
• Subjects: Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species CITES; Coral reef fishes; European and international trade; IUCN; Trade monitoring; Watchlist; Coral reef fishes; European and international trade; Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species CITES; IUCN; Trade monitoring; Watchlist
• ISSN: 0308-597X; 1872-9460
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpol.2019.103620

The trade in marine ornamental fishes is valued at over a billion dollars annually and comprises thousands of species. Historically, scientists have pointed out the importance of accurate trade statistics to monitor this trade. Today, there remains no global systems in place to monitor it. Europe is a major importer of coral reef fishes, and uses the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) to monitor trade in live animals for disease prevention. This database is not intended to record strict species-specific information on marine ornamental fishes, rather numbers of traded specimens and information on species to at least family level. Therefore, it is possible to estimate the volume of trade into Europe, which amounted to approximately 4 million marine ornamental fishes per year during 2014 and 2017. Susceptible species were identified using the number of traded specimens, trends in the trade volume, IUCN Red List conservation status, as well as vulnerability according to FishBase. After normalization of this data a score was created to produce a watchlist that establishes susceptibility to overexploitation of the species traded considering all parameters combined. Unfortunately, almost one third of all species is listed as data deficient or not evaluated by the IUCN Red List and could not be included in this calculation. Species on the watchlist should be given priority for further monitoring through the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES). This study suggests that TRACES, subject to several modifications, could be used as a tool to monitor trade in marine ornamental fishes. [Display omitted] •Origin and diversity of marine ornamental fishes traded to Europe.•Volume and trends of number of specimens traded.•Watchlist of species susceptible to trade and which should be monitored.•Adaptation of the Trade Control and Expert System TRACES to monitor this trade.•Assessment of all species by the IUCN Red List, some listed in CITES appendices.