The marine aquarium trade is a global industry that links exporting and importing countries through a complex network of suppliers and buyers. Annually, about 20-30 million specimens are traded across international boundaries, encompassing around 2000 marine fish species, 544 Scleractinia coral species, and approximately 500 non-coral invertebrate species. A species of particular concern within the trade is the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni ), listed under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Recent policy developments, such as NOAA’s proposed 4d rules, threaten to impose stringent restrictions on the import and export of aquacultured fishes, affecting both source and non-source countries.
The global supply of these marine organisms is heavily influenced by socioeconomic and environmental factors, including market access, compliance with CITES quotas, country-specific regulations, and consumer demand. The trade in corals has been traditionally dominated by 10 to 15 exporting countries, with Indonesia, Australia, and Pacific Island nations exporting the greatest volume. Yet the likely increase in highly restrictive export rules and import restrictions through the ESA poses a significant challenge to sustainable trade: policymakers risk shifting aquaculture practices away from biodiverse-rich source countries, whose biodiversity has supported the growth of a billion-dollar industry, to importing nations. This shift potentially contravenes international biodiversity conventions by reducing the biological stewardship and conservation incentives in source countries.
Shifting aquaculture activities risks losing biodiversity management and local conservation efforts. This presentation will discuss maintaining a balance in policy to support biodiversity conservation, illustrated through case studies on the Banggai cardinalfish and Scleractinia coral trade, highlighting the impacts of restrictive policies on ecosystems and economies.
Advances in aquaculture technology are crucial for sustainable practices, yet their effectiveness depends on policies that consider global trade dynamics and the role of source countries in biodiversity. The talk will emphasize policies that integrate environmental protection with sustainable aquaculture and biodiversity conservation. We’ll conclude with policy recommendations to support the marine aquarium trade and global biodiversity, focusing on source countries’ roles in conservation.