Supply And Demand

Following this weeks Moray Monday featuring the spectacular Dragon moray, my Hawaii Program Manager Liz Foote forwarded this eBay listing (above). It's for a Hawaiian Dragon moray with a starting bid of $450.

While eBay policy forbids the sale and traffic of live animals, it curiously makes an exception for tropical fish:

eBay generally does not allow the listing of live animals or pets on eBay. In restricted cases, some stuffed birds and the pelts and skins of some animals are permitted. Sellers who wish to list these items should review the specific rules in the “Some Examples” section below to ensure their listings comply with eBay policy. We also encourage members to educate themselves on the laws governing the regulation of the sale of animals found in the additional information section.

Live Animals: Other than the exceptions noted here, eBay does not allow sales of live animals or pets on eBay. eBay allows sales of tropical fish and domestic (i.e. not exotic) aquatic snails, provided the seller has the proper Federal (APHIS PPQ) - see Form 526 info below) and/or State permit(s) that allows for movement across State lines (and/or for importation into the U. S.), and provided that the seller guarantees in the listing that the animals will be packaged safely, and shipped via next day delivery.

In some developing coral reef nations, the well managed harvesting of tropical marine species for aquaria could potentially provide monetary value to healthy reefs. Like well managed tourist industries, these activities are intended to have little or no environmental impacts. And as they represent a renewable source of income, they are likely to be important in the quest for effective management practices that lead to long-term conservation. But where small reef areas occur in close proximity to major centers of population, like in Hawaii, sustainable and well managed collection for the aquarium trade becomes less tenable.

Because aquarium fish collectors are highly selective and often capture large quantities of species of high value, the potential for overexploitation is high. In response to continued strong public outcry over the aquarium collecting issue in Hawaii, the state legislature passed a bill in 1998 to improve the management of fishery resources in west Hawaii. A major thrust of the bill was to improve management of the aquarium industry by protecting a minimum of 30% of the west Hawaii coastline through the establishment of Fish Replenishment Areas (FRAs)--marine reserves where aquarium fish collecting is prohibited. Because the life history of aquarium reef fishes is poorly known, marine reserves have been widely recommended as the best approach for promoting the sustainable harvest of aquarium reef fishes. A 1999 study from the Big Island of Hawaii confirmed that aquarium collectors were still causing significant reductions in abundance in four of six proposed FRAs.

The above Dragon moray on eBay listed a shipping origin of Waimanalo, HI, which is located along the east shore of Oahu. Where it was collected, however, is anyone's guess. No registered eBay seller was listed for this post. After spotting the dubious Dragon moray post, Liz and others contacted eBay and the post was subsequently removed. But a quick survey of eBay can find many other Hawaiian marine aquarium species for sale by a variety of sellers. Yellow tangs, puffers, butterfly fish... the list goes on. And as long as the demand continues, the supply will strain to keep pace.

I'm not calling for the demise of marine aquariums. But if the marine aquarium hobby is to have a future, home aquarists need to think about sustainability. That means a commitment to promote, foster and encourage education and appreciation for the ethical husbandry and propagation of marine life. It means selecting certified sustainable species from certified sellers. And it means having the political will and motivation to call attention to unsustainable behaviors. For instance, if you notice a violation to eBay policy (or just sense something might not be on the up-and-up) you can take action. If we all just wait (or hope) for someone else to take action, the days may quickly become numbered for some spectacular reef species. And features like Moray Monday become reminders of what was instead of celebrations of what is.