Abstract
A recent shift in the pattern of commercial harvest in the Keppel Island region of the southern inshore Great Barrier Reef raises concern about the depletion of a number of relatively rare restricted range taxa. The shift appears to be driven by demand from the United States (US) for corals for domestic aquaria. Data from the annual status reports from the Queensland Coral Fishery were compared with export trade data to the US from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Evidence was found of recent increases in the harvest of species from the Mussidae family (Acanthastrea spp.) which appears to be largely driven by demand from the US. On present trends, the industry runs the risk of localized depletion of Blastomussa and Scolymia; evidenced by an increase in the harvest of small specimens and the trend of decreasing harvest despite a concurrent increase in demand. Considering their relatively high sediment tolerance compared to other reef-building species, and the current lack of information about their functional role in reef stability, the trend raises concerns about the impact of the harvest on local coral communities. The recent shift in harvest patterns could have impacts on slow-growing species by allowing harvest beyond the rate of population regeneration. In light of these factors, combined with the value of such species to local tourism, a commercial coral fishery based on uncommon but highly sought-after species may not be ecologically sustainable or economically viable in the Keppels.
Highlights
Declining coral diversity on many of the world’s coral reefs [1] and, in some cases, the regional depletion or extinctions of species has meant that many scleractinian corals are listed as “critically endangered” (6 spp.), “endangered” (23 spp.) or “vulnerable” (199 spp.) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature [2]
The number of specimens of live specialty corals being traded has increased from 10% of the total world coral trade in 1985 to 90% in 1997 [18,19]. In spite of this increase, the overall weight of traded live corals is a quarter of the ~4000 t traded in 1990. This is thought to have occurred because aquarists covet smaller and lighter specimens of vibrantly colored stony corals with large polyps (“LPS”, e.g., Euphyllia, Acanthastrea, Scolymia, Goniopora, Catalaphyllia, Trachyphyllia and Heliofungia spp.) in contrast to the heavier Pocillopora, Porites, and Acropora specimens
A list of the coral taxa classified as LPS is available in Table 2 Supplementary Material
Summary
Declining coral diversity on many of the world’s coral reefs [1] and, in some cases, the regional depletion or extinctions of species has meant that many scleractinian corals are listed as “critically endangered” (6 spp.), “endangered” (23 spp.) or “vulnerable” (199 spp.) by the International Union for Conservation of Nature [2]. In spite of trade restrictions, the global increase in demand for specific corals appears to have arisen without adequate knowledge of critical aspects of the biology of target species including growth, reproduction or potential for regeneration This situation has raised concern for the impact of the industry on reefs [21]. Of determining sustainability may still be flawed because of the shift from fast-growing to slow-growing taxa and the current rate of decline of calcification as a result of atmospheric CO2 [26] Such sustainability assessments merely inform managers about the total catch of corals whereas the industry focuses on collecting specific taxa.
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