Aquarium Collection Sustainability Planning for the Future

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Aquarium Collection SustainabilityPlanning for
the Future

• Dennis A. Thoney, Ph.D.
• Vancouver Aquarium
• Chair Aquatic Collection Sustainability
  Committee, AZA

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• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)
• Terrestrial Collections Sustainability Committee
• Aquatic Collections Sustainability Committee

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Problems with the Ornamental Fish Trade

• Overfishing
• Habitat destruction
• Release of chemicals nutrients into the
  environment
• Inadequate transport and holding procedures for
  animals

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Acquisition of Aquatic
Animals Through Breeding Programs 1)
High taxonomic diversity in marine animals
2) Variety of reproductive methods and larval
stages 3) Ecological, behavioral,
physiological, nutritional needs 4) General
lack of husbandry knowledge
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Aquarium and Zoo Aquatic Collection
Sustainability Public Aquariums that are
members of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums
(AZA) exhibit well over 3,000 aquatic species
belonging to over 15 phyla. The ability to
acquire these animals from the wild requires
traveling to these areas, working with local
residents, or purchasing animals through
commercial dealers. Logistics associated with
direct acquisition efforts are difficult and are
becoming more so with new legislation requiring
additional permits and procedures. However,
most species can be obtained through commercial
dealers or through governmental permit processes.
The existence of a long-established network of
commercial breeders of ornamental species has
lessened the need to collect many of the tropical
freshwater fishes, but the same cannot be said
for tropical marine fishes and invertebrates,
whose larval husbandry is more challenging.
While breeding some of the marine species is
already an alternative, they only fulfill a small
percentage of the species and provide a small
number of the individuals public aquariums
require for their exhibits. and so on
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Summary of Conclusions

• 1) Need to ensure that wild collection of
  fishes and invertebrates will occur into the
  future where sustainability is proven
• High fecundity
• Most tropical marine fishes have a wide
  distribution
• Managed collection has the ability to support
  local sustainable fisheries
• 2) Need to continue, and expand our ability to
  rear fishes and invertebrates at our institutions
  
• 3) Need to pursue further research into the
  breeding and rearing of difficult marine tropical
  fishes with small larvae

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Aquarium and Zoo Aquatic Collection
Sustainability Action PlanThe ten action items
for the Aquatic Sustainable Collection Plan are
outlined below.

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• Ensure that governmental regulations do not
  prevent public education and conservation
  facilities from acquiring fishes and
  invertebrates from natural habitats. AZA Govt
  Affairs,
• Choromanski, Boyle
• A) Set up system to monitor state, national, and
  international regulatory legislation that would
  affect the ability of facilities to obtain wild
  caught aquatic animals.
• B) Keep aquarium and zoo associations
  government affairs departments informed of
  regulatory changes that affect the trade of
  aquatic animals.
• C) Request that aquarium and zoo associations
  government affairs departments work with
  lawmakers and regulatory agencies to ensure that
  aquatic animals are available to our facilities.
• D) Set up efficient international system for
  aquarium and zoo associations, facilities, and
  staff to provide input and/or support for
  important causes affecting the ability to obtain
  aquatic animals.
• 2) Need to develop decision process to help
  curators make appropriate decisions regarding the
  acquisition of aquatic animals (ie. decision tree
  included in RCPs).

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• 3) Need to develop an approved list of
  sustainable fish collectors and distributors, and
  encourage all aquarium facilities to purchase
  through them when appropriate. Boyle, Thoney
• A) Need to develop criteria for certification
  list
• A List Suppliers that have sustainable
  conservation plans, follow all governmental and
  international organization regulations, and can
  guarantee known sustainable chain of custody of
  aquatic animals from capture to final
  destination.
• b. B List Suppliers that can document that
  there are conservation measures in place to help
  ensure that animals they trade are obtained and
  transported sustainably. c. C List Hemdel
  to write draft criteria
• B) Need to develop certification committee
• Determine whether AZA and EUAC (or EAZA) should
  have separate committees.
• Determine committee structure and how it will
  operate.
• Determine application requirements (form and
  required documentation).
• C) Need to discuss methods to select and recruit
  suppliers to certification procedure.
• Need to discuss how members will be encouraged to
  use certified suppliers.
• Establish ad hoc committee to evaluate logistics
  associated with establishing an extractive
  reserve.

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• 4) Need to support in-situ conservation efforts
  (ie. Project Piaba, Project Seahorse) to support
  local sustainable fisheries and prevent less
  sustainable ways of making a living.
• A) Continue to support Project Piaba and Project
  Seahorse
• B) Network with fishers to establish new in-situ
  sustainability efforts especially for coral reef
  speciesThoney contact EUAC, Bailey to send out
  email
• 5) Evaluate whether AZA operated or
  collaboratively operated extractive reserves are
  viable.
• Contact each institutional board and others to
  determine if appropriate areas are available
  (should also be discussed in relation to 4B
  above). LMMAs Local Marine Managed Areas
  (Bailey tocontact Les Kaufman)
• 6) Need to obtain sustainably captive reared
  fishes and invertebrates when available.
• A) Commercial culture operations should be
  evaluated to ensure that they are sustainable
  (ie. do not release exotic species or disperse
  toxicants, including antibiotics).
• B) Need to continue, and expand institutional
  support for rearing fishes and invertebrates at
  our institutions.
• Need to develop white paper discussing benefits
  of raising aquatic species at our institutions
  to support increased budgets, space, and staff
• Provide workshops and/or develop a training
  course in fish reproduction and larval rearing.
  2011 RAW workshops on fresh and marine breeding
  techniques - Firchau Thoney

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• 7) Need to work with universities and ornamental
  aquaculture facilities to pursue further research
  into the
• breeding and rearing of difficult marine tropical
  fishes with small larvae. There has been an
  inadequate job here as an industry so far, and
  AZA assistance in facilitating such relationships
  is needed.
• A) Support Florida based CEF grants to work with
  universities and aquaculturists to raise marine
  fish larvae.
• B) Collaborate with researchers interested in
  working in aquarium facilities (ie. providing
  access to species ex situ). Survey Thoney
• 8) Need to improve ability to breed sharks
• A) Evaluate environmental parameters required to
  trigger reproduction in specific species and
  select and institution to test methodology.
• B) Develop techniques (ie. artificial
  fertilization) that will increase our ability to
  breed large sharks and sawfishes. Support
  application for a CEF grant.
• C) Outline elasmobranch exhibit design
  parameters that will increase the probability of
  successful reproduction. Littlehale for
  sandtiger sharks
• Determine most appropriate dimensions.
• Define environmental parameters.
• Determine life support requirements and flow.
• D) Consider building a breeding center for
  elasmobranchs.
• Evaluate logistics, capital and operational
  costs, and potential locations.
• 9) Institutional commitment to in situ ex situ
  objectives (request committment as above actions
  occur)
• A) Institutional commitment to give preference
  to animals from certified sources.
• B) Each institution commit to supporting an in
  situ conservation initiatives under 5, 6 8.
• C) Each institution commits to providing
  resources or space in support of 7 9.