CoP17 Prop. 46

Inclusion of Banggai Cardinalfish Pterapogon kauderni in Appendix II
Proponent: European Union
Summary: The Banggai Cardinal Fish Pterapogon kauderni is a small marine fish endemic to the BanggaiArchipelago off Central Sulawesi, eastern Indonesia. It has a natural range of ca. 5500km2 and occurs in
isolated small populations in the shallow waters of 34 islands, primarily in sea grass beds and on coral reefs.
The total area of potential habitat within the range is estimated at around 23km2. There are also a fewintroduced populations in a restricted area outside the species natural area of occurrence, which account fora very small proportion of the total1. P. kauderni is a benthic, site-attached species with a generation time
estimated at about two years. It exhibits relatively low fecundity, often with reduced fertility, direct
development and extended parental care. There is no planktonic phase so dispersal and potential tocolonise or re-colonise areas are very limited.
Harvesting for international trade is considered by most experts to be the principal factor affecting thespecies; it is believed to have led to substantial population declines and local extinctions within its naturalrange. The species is also adversely affected by habitat loss and deterioration through loss of coral cover,primarily as a result of destructive fishing methods, and declines in abundance through harvest of sea
urchins, anemones and anemone-like corals on which it is dependent. The extent, if any, to which thespecies can adapt to severely altered habitats is unknown, but believed likely to be limited.
Live individuals for the aquarium market are the only product in trade. The majority are exported to the USA,
Europe and Asia. The export fishery started in the mid-1990s, and by 2007 the annual harvest wasestimated at some 900,000 fish.
There is an estimated mortality rate of 25 to 50% between actual harvest and compilation of trade/importfigures. In 2015, holding nets containing thousands of P. kauderni were recorded on several islands,
indicating that collection pressure may not have decreased.
A new shipping method, with increased use of “public” transportation (small and medium size boats, andspeed boats) for shipping P. kauderni directly out of the Archipelago, has meant that captures are not being
reported to the local (Banggai) fisheries/quarantine office, and assessment of trade volumes and shipping
mortality has become more challenging.
There have been many studies of this species by different authors, and some areas and populations havebeen tracked over 15 years with data available for 2001, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2015. The overall consensus
is that the population is declining. Information on population levels before exploitation started is lacking.
Studies in 2002 and 2004 of a population that was not then exploited estimated it to have a density ofca. 0.6 individuals per m2.
Censuses conducted between 2001 and 2004 covering the entire range produced mean densities ofbetween 0.07 to 0.08 fish per m2 and an overall population estimate of 2.4 million fishes, based on 34km2 ofsuitable habitat. A more restricted survey in 2011 to 2012 found a mean density of 0.05 fishes per m 2
indicating overall abundance of around 1.7 million fishes. Seven of the major sites surveyed in 2001 to 2004
and in 2011 to 2012 showed declines in mean density and overall abundance, presumed to be due toover-exploitation. In 2015, no population was found with a density near to 0.6 individuals per m 2. At sites
where fishing intensity is high, the mean number of groups per census site declined by 27% from 2007, andthe mean group size of censused populations in 2015 showed a ca. 40% reduction from the mean size groupof 2007.
Extirpation of local populations ascribed to exploitation has been documented in several islands. Researchsuggests that once population densities decline to ca. 0.02 individuals per m2, they may be unable torecover. Temporary local recovery of populations has been recorded at sites where fishing has beenstopped, although in two documented cases these populations subsequently collapsed.
In Indonesia, a Banggai Cardinalfish Action Plan (BCF-AP) was drawn up for the period 2007 to 2012, andincluded the establishment of the Banggai Cardinalfish Centre (BCFC) to coordinate conservation andmanagement actions. Trade quotas were proposed by local stakeholders in 2010 but were not continued,mainly due to a lack of legal support. By 2012, there was reportedly still no effective long-term conservation,management or monitoring system in place. A marine protected area was established in 2007 in part to help
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CoP17 Prop. 46
conserve the species, but there has been no evidence of implementation or management of the area, and alarge part of the protected area falls outside the range of the species.
The species can be bred relatively easily in captivity although wild-caught fish are currently cheaper. An
NGO captive-breeding facility has just opened in Indonesia and sent its first exports to the UK2; othercommercial captive-breeding facilities are reportedly exporting, according to internet sites, but details are notavailable.
The species was categorised as Endangered by IUCN in 2007.
Since P. kauderni are harvested from nearshore environments within the Indonesian Exclusive Economic
Zone (EEZ), “introduction from the sea” is not an issue for this species.
Analysis: Pterapogon kauderni is a marine species with a very restricted range whose biologicalcharacteristics make it vulnerable to overexploitation. It has been harvested in large numbers since the mid1990s for the international aquarium fish trade, with exploitation continuing. Available evidence indicates that
this has led to significant and continuing reductions in population density and overall population size. Thespecies is also affected by habitat loss and degradation. There appears to be no effective long-term
management in place. It would appear that the species meets the criteria for inclusion in Appendix II inAnnex 2 a of Res. Conf. 9.24 (Rev. CoP16) in that regulation of harvest is required to ensure that the wild
population does not become threatened through continued harvesting or other influences.
Reviewers: A. Vagelli, K. Carpenter and E. Wood.
References:
Information not referenced in the Summary section is from the Supporting Statement.
1 Vagelli, A. (2016) In litt. to the IUCN/TRAFFIC Analysis Team, Cambridge, UK.
2 Pearce, S. (2016) Captive-bred Banggai cardinalfish on the way.

http://www.petbusinessworld.co.uk/news/feed/captive-bred-banggai-cardinalfish-on-the-way. Viewed on 1st July 2016.

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