Peer Review #2 of "The effects of venting and decompression on Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) in the marine ornamental aquarium fish trade (v0.1)"

Each year, over 45 countries export 30 million fish from coral reefs as part of the global marine ornamental aquarium trade. This catch volume is affected by collection methods that cause mortality. Barotrauma caused by forced ascent of collected fish from depth has been determined to be a cause of post-collection mortality. The detrimental effects of barotrauma can be prevented by decompression, or mitigated with venting (puncturing the swim bladder to release expanded internal gas). To further evaluate the effects of collection methods on fish stress and mortality, we conducted the first comprehensive study on the effects of barotrauma prevention and mitigation practices on marine ornamental fish. We examined the effects of three ascent treatments, each with decompression stops of different frequency and duration coupled with or without venting, on sublethal effects and mortality in yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), using histology and serum cortisol measurements. In Z. flavescens subjected to ascent without decompression stops or venting, a mean post-collection mortality of 6.2% occurred within 24h of capture. Common collection methods in the fishery, ascent without or with one decompression stop followed by venting, resulted in no mortality. Histopathologic examination of heart, liver, head kidney, and swim bladder tissues in fish 0d and 21d post-collection revealed no significant lesions in any treatment group. Ascent without decompression stops resulted in significantly higher serum cortisol than ascent with many decompression stops, and venting alone did not affect cortisol. Future work should examine links in the supply chain following collection to determine if further handling and transport stressors affect survivorship and sublethal effects.

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The effects of venting and decompression on Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) in the ornamental aquarium fish trade

10.7287/peerj.preprints.591v1 ◽

2014 ◽

Author(s):

Emily S Munday ◽

Brian N Tissot ◽

Jerry R Heidel ◽

Tim Miller-Morgan

Keyword(s):

Sublethal Effects ◽

Head Kidney ◽

Serum Cortisol ◽

Swim Bladder ◽

Aquarium Fish ◽

Future Work ◽

Fish Trade ◽

Collection Methods ◽

Comprehensive Study ◽

Yellow Tang

Each year, over 45 countries export 30 million fish from coral reefs as part of the global marine ornamental aquarium trade. This catch volume is affected by collection methods that cause mortality. Barotrauma caused by forced ascent of collected fish from depth has been determined to be a cause of post-collection mortality. The detrimental effects of barotrauma can be prevented by decompression, or mitigated with venting (puncturing the swim bladder to release expanded internal gas). To further evaluate the effects of collection methods on fish stress and mortality, we conducted the first comprehensive study on the effects of barotrauma prevention and mitigation practices on marine ornamental fish. We examined the effects of three ascent treatments, each with decompression stops of different frequency and duration coupled with or without venting, on sublethal effects and mortality in yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), using histology and serum cortisol measurements. In Z. flavescens subjected to ascent without decompression stops or venting, a mean post-collection mortality of 6.2% occurred within 24h of capture. Common collection methods in the fishery, ascent without or with one decompression stop followed by venting, resulted in no mortality. Histopathologic examination of heart, liver, head kidney, and swim bladder tissues in fish 0d and 21d post-collection revealed no significant lesions in any treatment group. Ascent without decompression stops resulted in significantly higher serum cortisol than ascent with many decompression stops, and venting alone did not affect cortisol. Future work should examine links in the supply chain following collection to determine if further handling and transport stressors affect survivorship and sublethal effects.

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Revealing the Appetite of the Marine Aquarium Fish Trade: The Volume and Biodiversity of Fish Imported into the United States

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0035808 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 7 (5) ◽

pp. e35808 ◽

Cited By ~ 139

Author(s):

Andrew L. Rhyne ◽

Michael F. Tlusty ◽

Pamela J. Schofield ◽

Les Kaufman ◽

James A. Morris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

The United States ◽

Aquarium Fish ◽

Fish Trade

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Fisher behaviour influences catch productivity and selectivity in West Hawaii's aquarium fishery

ICES Journal of Marine Science ◽

10.1093/icesjms/fsr020 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 68 (5) ◽

pp. 813-822 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Todd C. Stevenson ◽

Brian N. Tissot ◽

Jan Dierking

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Reef Fish ◽

Ex Situ ◽

Catch Per Unit Effort ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Fish Stocks ◽

Catch Rates ◽

Fish Trade ◽

Yellow Tang

Abstract Stevenson, T. C., Tissot, B. N., and Dierking, J. 2011. Fisher behaviour influences catch productivity and selectivity in West Hawaii's aquarium fishery. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 68: 813–822. In 1999, marine protected areas (MPAs) were implemented along the west coast of the Big Island of Hawaii, closing ∼35% of the coastline to aquarium fishing. Catch per unit effort and total catch of the most commonly targeted fish, yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), have increased since the implementation of the MPAs, yet its abundance has declined by 45% in areas open to aquarium fishing between 1999 and 2007. How effort allocation, harvesting efficiencies, and job satisfaction influence catch productivity and selectivity in West Hawaii's aquarium fishery are investigated, and how these dynamics explain the discrepancy between catch rates and relative abundance for yellow tang is discussed. Cross-sectional fisher questionnaires, semi-structured fisher interviews, and in situ and ex situ catch analyses were performed. The results indicate that fishers dive deeper when reef fish recruitment is perceived as weak, increase harvest efficiency with larger fishing teams, and intensively harvest “coral-friendly” reef fish to supply the global aquarium fish trade. Experienced fishers were less likely to exit the fishery, and job satisfaction was high despite declining fish stocks. These findings may help explain harvesting efficiencies and fleet investment, underscore the importance for evaluating fisher behaviours, and have potential management implications for other aquarium fisheries.

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Aquaculture as a potential support of marine aquarium fish trade sustainability

Management of Natural Resources, Sustainable Development and Ecological Hazards III ◽

10.2495/rav110021 ◽

2011 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

L. Molina ◽

A. Segade

Keyword(s):

Aquarium Fish ◽

Fish Trade

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Capillariosis in breeder discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) in Iran

Journal of Agricultural Sciences Belgrade ◽

10.2298/jas1003253r ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 253-259 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hooman Rahmati-Holasoo ◽

Ebrahimzadeh Mousavi ◽

Mehdi Soltani ◽

Seyedhossein Hosseini ◽

Masoomeh Ghadam ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Mortality ◽

Bacterial Culture ◽

Morphological Characteristics ◽

Ornamental Fish ◽

Aquarium Fish ◽

The Past ◽

Ornamental Fish Trade ◽

Aseptic Conditions ◽

Veterinary Faculty ◽

Fish Trade

The global ornamental fish trade is a rapidly growing industry. Cultivation and propagation of ornamental fishes have been increasing in the last 20 years in Iran. Discus (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) from Cichlidae is one of the most popular and expensive aquarium fish. In the past few years farming of this fish has been well developed in Iran. Two breeder discus fish (Symphysodon aequifasciatus) from two different propagation centres (with high mortality) with signs of anorexia, loss of balance, moribundity and darkness in skin colour were referred to Laboratory of Aquatic Diseases of Veterinary Faculty, University of Tehran. After the survey of ectoparasites, necropsy was performed under aseptic conditions; bacterial culture on standard media was done and the alimentary canal was extruded. In both fish no ectoparasite was detected and no bacteria from these cases grew on the standard media. In internal survey 5 and 25 nematodes were detected in each fish. A high number of free eggs were observed in intestine of fish. Regarding morphological characteristics of the nematodes and their eggs, they were identified as Capillaria sp. Treatment of other fish with levamisole was effective and the loss was terminated. Some helminthes like Capillaria pterophylli Heinze, 1933, can cause a high mortality in cichlid aquarium fishes. This study showed that infection with some species of Capillaria could cause a heavy loss in ornamental fish from Cichlidae. Diagnosis of parasites of these fishes can help us to prevent high mortalities.

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Occurence of exotic tropical fish in the cooling pondage of a power station in temperate south-eastren Australia

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf9800541 ◽

1980 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 541 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

PL Cadwallader ◽

GN Backhouse ◽

R Fallu

Keyword(s):

South America ◽

Central America ◽

Tropical Fish ◽

Convict Cichlid ◽

Power Station ◽

Aquarium Fish ◽

Convict Cichlids ◽

Eastern Australia ◽

Black Mangrove ◽

Fish Trade

Three species of exotic tropical fish, the black mangrove or Niger cichlid, Tilapia mariae Boulenger, of West Africa; the convict cichlid, Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum (Gunther), of Central America; and the Jack Dempsey cichlid, Cichlasoma octofasciatum (Regan), of Central and South America, have been recorded from the cooling pondage of a power station in temperate south-eastern Australia. All three species are readily available in the local aquarium fish trade. Black mangrove cichlids and convict cichlids appear to have established self-maintaining populations in the pondage. and also occur in a creek below the pondage.

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