Advancing marine conservation
Biology and exploitation of coral reef organisms remain very under-studied, particularly with respect to live food and non-food fisheries. Coral reefs are found in over 100 countries, supporting more than 4000 species of fish and 1000 species of reef-building corals (Paulay, 1997). The resources in these ecosystems are exploited by tens of millions of fishers …
This chapter focuses on the various ecological issues that are related to the trade of live reef fishes. Well-managed live reef fish fisheries offer an excellent chance for high-value and relatively low-volume trades that could employ many fishers without damaging wild populations, with the income providing strong local incentives to care for marine resources. Similarly, …
I was glad t o read Chuck Birkeland’s article on disposable income in Asia and its effects on coral reef resources (Reef Encounte r No. 22: 9-13). I would certainly agree that economic growth in China (and previously in Asia in general) is putting new pressures on marine resources, and thank him for raising the …
Vincent, A.C. & Sadovy, Y.J. (1998). Reproductive ecology in the conservation and management of fishes. In Behavioural Ecology and Conservation Biology Tim Caro (ed.), p. 209-245. Oxford University Press.… Read more
Despite Thierry Schmidt’s successes and his opinion that keeping seahorses presents no special difficulties, I am deluged by letters from home aquarists, public aquarists, and aquaculturists reporting the difficulties of seahorse keeping. It is irresponsible to encourage seahorse breeding without warning of the difficulties and the high rate of failure. An editorial note commented that …
The five fish species in the family Pegasidae, known as sea moths or sea robins, are only found in the Indo-Pacific and are unfamiliar even to most fish biologists and fishers. These intriguing and attractive fish – which measure less than 18cm – swim with huge pectoral fins and use their rolled pelvic fins to …
Seahorses have long been held to have magical properties. In ancient Greece, fishermen who found seahorses washed ashore believed these were the young of the giant stallions that pulled Neptune’s chariots across the waves. The Roman natural historian Pliny stated that ashes of seahorse mixed with tallow and oil of marjoram, and applied to the …