Partnerships for Fostering Ethical, Beneficial and Sustainable Aquarium Fisheries 2015 Aquarama 2015 Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group Scott Dowd IUCN/FFSG/HAFSG Chair July 2015 Executive Summary 3 The IUCN, FFSG Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group 4 Next Steps and Timeline 7 Aquarama 2015 Session 1 – Round Table Discussion 8 Strategic Development Meeting 30 May 2015 – Outputs 16 Appendix 1: Aquarama 2015 Strategic Development Meeting Pre-Survey 24 Appendix 2: Strategic Development Meeting Commitment and Feedback 32 Executive Summary At the Aquarama 2015 Seminars held in Singapore May 28 – June 1 the IUCN Freshwater Fishes Specialist Group worked with the event organizers to convene discussions, panels, and a Strategic Development Meeting with the goals of developing a framework to maximize environmental and socioeconomic benefits as an outcome of the home aquarium trade. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear there is substantial overlap in the shared goals for environmental and socioeconomic benefits between commercial stakeholders, the academic/conservation community, and zoos and public aquariums. Leaders in these three groups convened at Aquarama to discuss shared goals, shared challenges, and how a harmonized strategy may yield significant benefits to all. In the not too distant past, these three groups would not necessarily have viewed the others as partners; in fact, a certain degree of reservation towards each other was not uncommon. The sincere commitment to collaboration that took place at the Singapore meeting was, itself, a great step forward. The key perspectives of the three groups at this point can be described through the following examples: • Industry: Dr. Gerald Bassleer, President of Ornamental Fish International (OFI), expressed eagerness for trade members to support research on the industry. He also described intolerance within OFI for poor ethics and unsustainable practices. He saw a great opportunity to partner with zoos and aquariums to inspire and foster the next generation of responsible fishkeepers. • Academic/conservation organizations: Ms. Lynn Tang from Conservation International (CI), responding to descriptions of how the aquarium trade is being negatively affected by activists in the EU, shared examples from CI's work that demonstrate to the trade community that CI and other mainstream scientific/conservation groups are able and ready to work with industry to redirect and rebrand it as a force for good. These examples were: a) CI’s commitment to working on opening a legal path for the dragonfish (Scleropages formosus) market in the US, with recognition that the trade of dragonfish will help to direct funds to the conservation of the species in situ, and; b) she cited a case study in which CI maintained their partnership with the SEA Aquarium despite the fact that the aquarium was being attacked by animal rights groups in protests over dolphins exhibits. • Public zoos and aquariums: Cindy Lee of the Toronto Zoo (Association of Zoos and Aquariums) called for increased two-way exchange between the home aquarium trade and zoos and aquariums in technology and overall strategic planning. Cindy shared that zoos and public aquariums have approximately 200 million visitors annually and that they represent an ideal platform for messaging that will reach a broad and relevant population. The goal of elucidating the shared priorities by the three groups was met. A broad strategic framework plan was developed, which calls for the Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group to produce a Consensus Statement and White Paper identifying opportunities to maximize socioeconomic and environmental benefit from the aquarium hobby, case studies to be showcased and promoted in public aquariums and zoos, and harmonized and reflective marketing with commercial trade partners, and the hobby community. Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group (HAFSG) About the HAFSG For decades home aquarium fish have been collected from regions of biological importance across the globe. The vast majority of the organisms in the home aquarium trade are represented by freshwater species (90 percent). The home aquarium fish trade is a large international market responsible for hundreds of millions of dollars annually in revenue for businesses. Although the majority of freshwater aquarium specimens are captive-bred and cultured, there are still fishing communities residing in areas of biological importance that capture and export fishes for the global trade. These Photo: Vincent DiDuca fisheries are a powerful driver of the local economies and environmental stewardship in regions where their collection takes place. These fisheries face many pressing issues, including: • Market competition from ex-situ fish farms • Public perception pressure on the industry to shift to captive bred stock • Decline in recruitment of new fish hobbyists and a disconnection with millennials • Increasing regulations on the importation of wild-captured fishes • The need to implement Best Handling Practices for wild caught fishes to maximize value and market competitiveness and minimize fish stress • The need to develop marketing frameworks to highlight the socioeconomic and environmental benefits of wild-caught fishes • The need for solutions that benefit the environment to address unsustainable or destructive practices • The need to establish fair and equitable distribution of economic benefits Implementing best practices for the capture and export of these fishes can provide effective incentives for communities and workers to fend off other industries and practices that degrade the environment upon which the fish depend, resulting in protection for not only the target species but the entire ecosystem. Many of these regions that contain marketable species, as well as other species that may be threatened according to the IUCN Red List, might not be formally protected by legislation, but they function as protected areas, as a result of resident-based stewardship. In important instances in developing countries, the home aquarium trade has become an effective instrument for poverty alleviation, conservation Collecting tetras in Daracua of remaining areas of biological importance and critically Photo: Gary Jones, Mars Fishcare endangered species, as well as conserving global climate stability. The HAFSG is composed of, and draws from, its Steering Committee and Advisory Board, which includes the IUCN’s Specialist Groups, partnering NGOs, leaders in the home aquarium industry, and the public aquarium and zoo community. Science-based findings towards conservation objectives are conveyed via zoos, aquariums, and other outlets in a harmonized strategy with commercial partners to achieve shared goals. With this in mind, the HAFSG has been created with several goals, which include: • To identify, validate, and promote the conservation and wise management of wild populations of tropical fishes that are part of the home aquarium trade, as well as the ecosystems where they are found • To support sustainable, socioeconomic, and environmental benefits for home aquarium fishing communities, especially living in regions of biological importance • To develop and implement solutions that result in the most robust market for home aquarium fishes that promote environmental stewardship, poverty alleviation, and climate stability. Home Aquarium Fish Sub-group (HAFSG) Steering Committee Scott Dowd Deb Joyce Bernardo Ortiz Devin Bartley IUCN FFSG Home Aquarium IUCN FFSG Home Aquarium WWF/TRAFFIC. Regional Food and Agriculture Fish Sub---group. Chair Fish Sub---group. Program Director, South America Organization. Senior Fishery Officer Resources Officer Randy Brummett Rosie Cooney Paul Boyle Sandra Elvin World Bank. Senior Chair. IUCN SULi: Sustainable Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Association of Zoos and Fisheries Specialist Use and Livelihoods Specialist Aquariums. Senior Vice President, Director, Conservation (Aquaculture & Inland Group Conservation R & D and Policy Research and Policy Fisheries) Development Tim Miller Morgan Chris Andrews Kira Husher Marshall Meyers Oregon Sea Grant. Lead, Merlin Entertainment. Head, IUCN. Director Specialist Pet Industry Joint Advisory Aquatic Animal Health Animal Welfare and Group Partnerships Council.Senior Advisor Program Development--- US Gerald Bassleer Keith Davenport John Dawes Mike Tuccinardi Ornamental Fish International. Ornamental Aquatic Freelance Author. Editor and Freelance Author. Editor President Trade Association, Chief International Ornamental and International Executive Aquatic Industry Consultant Aquarium Industry Consultant Partnerships for Fostering Ethical, Beneficial and Sustainable Aquarium Fisheries Aquarama 2015 Next steps and timeline include: • June 19, 2015: Open commentary and review on a) the Aquarama meeting report, and b), the overall strategy of the HAFSG to identify beneficial case studies and opportunities associated with the trade, which can be used to showcase positive examples at zoos and public aquariums in a way to foster a market for aquarium fishes that are sustainable, benefit the environment, and help support local livelihoods. • Ongoing: The HAFSG Steering Committee (SC) maintains dialogue with the broader working group of stakeholders within the aquarium fish trade, the scientific/conservation community, and zoos and public aquariums. • July 15, 2015: The HAFSG SC will produce a Consensus Statement comprising points of agreement in regard to fostering environmental and socioeconomic benefits from the aquarium fish trade. • September 1, 2015: The HAFSG SC will produce a first draft White Paper describing examples of where the home aquarium fish trade currently results in environmental and/or socioeconomic benefit, where through attainable adaptation it could result in benefit, and where there is the urgent need for environmental stewardship or livelihoods that could be attained from the aquarium trade. • Ongoing: Work with trade groups such as Ornamental Fish International (OFI), Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA), and the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC) to seek examples that might be included in the HAFSG White Paper. • AZA National Conference, Sept 2015: Advance an industry-wide initiative for zoos and aquariums to showcase examples from the HAFSG White Paper in their exhibits and programs. This initiative should highlight conservation themes, while encouraging visitors to enter the fishkeeping hobby and seek fishes that have been sourced in ways that result in beneficial outcomes. • Ongoing: Plan development meetings at venues where working group members are likely to convene: AZA, EUAC, RAW, Aquatic Experience, Interzoo, Aquarama, etc. Aquarama 2015 SEnegasges, Inifoluennc e1 an d– C oRllabooruaten: Mdax iTmiazinbg lthee SyDneirgsiecs ouf tshes Piuoblicn M oderator: and Home Aquarium Industries John Dawes, Freelance author, editor and international ornamental aquatic industry consultant Panelists: - Dr. Rob Jones, The Aquarium Vet, Australia; Consultant to Sea Life Aquariums in Australia and New Zealand - Mr. Scott Dowd, Special Adviser to the AZA on Aquarium Fisheries, US - Mr. Ramon Barbosa Costas, Senior Curator, RWS – S.E.A. Aquarium, Singapore - Dr. Gerald Bassleer, President, Ornamental Fish International (OFI) - Mr. Svein Fosså, President, European Pet Trade Organization; Secretary General, Norwegian Pet Trade Association - Mr. Lyle Squire Jnr, Director, Cairns Marine, Australia; President, Provision Reef, Australia - Mr. Keith Davenport, Chief Executive, Ornamental Aquatic Trade Association (OATA), UK OVERVIEW ON LOGIC FOR HAVING PUBLIC AQUARIA AT THIS YEAR’S DIALOGUE - The ornamental fish industry supplies both the public aquaria and home aquaria sectors - It is logical to launch a joint venture between the trade and the public aquaria - As far as known, this is the first venture where members from both industries are gathered together to collaborate NOTES FROM PARTICIPANTS’ COMMENTS ON SUSTAINABLE HARVESTING FOR PUBLIC AND HOME AQUARIA - Public aquaria’s point of view → conservation should be promoted Sustainability and conservation from collection of animals from the o wild SEA Aquarium trying to identify suppliers that sustainably collect o their animals, either being regulated by the supplier itself with its own code of conduct or ethical moral compass, or by government regulations However, most public aquaria face the problem of it being hard to o find these suppliers But SEA Aquarium, for one, is definitely still trying to divert its o suppliers from unsustainable ones to sustainable ones → in hope that the unsustainable suppliers will eventually face declining business, and be forced to become sustainable to meet the new market demand - Public aquaria’s point of view → yes, indeed, sustainable harvesting is possible But the reality is that, unfortunately, many public aquaria do not o stop to think, or have access to supply chain information to know if their organisms come from sustainable fisheries Another unfortunate reality is that sustainability can be more o expensive Indeed, public aquaria need to stop and analyze these fisheries to o make sure that they are sustainable Public aquaria, as institutions that should promote conservation, o have the obligation to ask the hard questions and go the extra step in terms of funding to maintain sustainability - There are some public aquaria that are doing so, but the sad truth is that the majority still do not do so. - Public aquaria may actually be somewhat distant from the trade itself Their primary job is to stock and maintain the exhibits, and those o working in the aquaria may not be clear about the trade Public aquaria need to be educated on the need to delve deep and o question where the fish are coming from, and check that they are sustainably supplied Public aquaria are in a fantastic position to promote conservation and o the idea of sustainability  Visitors to public aquaria are there because they love fish, and are willing to spend their disposable income on seeing the fish  At the same time, on the technical level, the aquaria have the capacity to do so – e.g. aquaria have the space to look into the possibility of breeding of fish. If this can be achieved in exhibits in aquaria, maybe there’s a possibility to extend the concept to reef side communities. There is vast possibility for new technology to be developed - There is definitely possibility for sustainability But we must bring it down to the final consumers. The consumers are o the ones to generate change in the industry, and a key group of these consumers can be visitors to public aquaria - The tone of the discussion has been quite negative so far. We need to be more positive The home aquarium fish industry has been around for many o years. The very fact that we can sit here at this round table discussion and o publicly assess what we have done wrong is positive We should not constantly beat ourselves up; we are definitely not a o perfect industry, but there isn’t a perfect industry, and we should be proud of what we have come to achieve - We don’t want to fall into a trap of believing that there is sustainable and unsustainable, one participant noted and stated: There is no such thing as being able to achieve perfect o sustainability There are many pressure groups that are looking to attack us, but we o should not let ourselves be vulnerable and easy prey We are not solving the issue by completely exchanging wild-harvested o fish with captive-bred fish. By doing so, other sustainability issues may arise Don’t go down the road of having no wild-caught fish, and relying completely on captive breeding as there are massive ambushes [potential for backlash if it is perceived that ex-situ production is done to the detriment (socioeconomic or environmental) of the region of origin of the species] down the road We have to remember that the home aquarium fishery industry is not o as bad as it may be made out to be; even with wild-harvested fish, we’re not killing everything that we’re taking out - Both the ornamental fish trade and public aquaria are under attack We can just look at the Blackfish documentary for a clear example o One participant stated that we should be proactive and not just o reactive. Can we be on the front foot if we are reacting to public outcry? Suggestion from the floor → from the home and public o aquaria point of view, the consumer needs an easy way to make a choice. The decision-making time frame is only a few seconds. Since the power to make the decisions lies with the consumers, we o should make it easy for the consumers to make the sustainable choice - The key question should be → How do we know if it’s sustainable? We need to fill the gap in knowledge here It’s about the capacity to trace the fish to its origin, where it o comes from. We need a process of certification to track and trace To encourage people to do the right thing, to harvest sustainably, o we need to reward them. But to determine who these people are so as to give them the appropriate awards, we need certification The industry could possibly revisit the Marine Aquarium o Council standards