The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force

Dr. Roger B. Griffis

July 30, 2000 on #reefs

James asked me to talk a little about the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force and its work on the issue of trade in coral reef species. Something of interest to you all I think I'll be short on the info on the Task Force - you can ask me for more info later if you like and more on what we're thinking about regarding trade in coral reef species.

Just for background then, the U.C. Coral Reef Task Force was established two years ago by President Clinton to help coordinate and focus U.S. agencies to address the growing "coral reef crisis". The Task force is charged with developing a long term strategy for conserving U.S. coral reefs, and for looking at the role of the U.S. in helping to conserve coral reefs abroad. Thats where the coral trade stuff comes in.

The Task Force has helped get a bunch of things going here in the US over the past two years. Such as an effort to map all US coral reefs - setting up a national monitoring program for US reefs and helping to fund state and territorial efforts to conserve, monitor and manage coral reef species. The Task Force was also charged specifically with looking at the US role in the trade of coral reef species. They established a subgroup made up of agency folks and began looking at what data existed.

We also began talking to you - the hobbiests and industry folks - to see what was going on. I'm not an expert on interational trade or anything - but here are some of the initial findings from the group.

International trade in coral reef species has been increasing dramatically over the past 10 years

- 12 to 30% per year

- The US is the largest importer in the world of this coral reef species trade

- The US imports 80 % of the live and dead coral, and more than 50% of the aquarium fish traded worldwide

Now don't get me wrong - this is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, some would say, and I would agree, that this is fine as long as the reefs these things are coming from are doing OK. Thats where some of the other information comes in.

You all probably know better than I do that many of the world's reefs are in trouble from a range of things. Pollution, overfishing, destructive collection practices etc. Our goal was (1) to understand the magnitude and impact of the trade in coral reef species, and (2) determine what might be done to help make this sustainable.

Several things seem to indicate there may be some problems with all this trade and collection of coral reef species is (1) what can the US govt do to help conserve and sustain coral reefs worldwide, and (2) how can we help the aquarium trade industry ensure it is sustainable - ie not destroying the very reefs the hobbiests love.

We have been working closely with the Marine Aquarium Council for ideas and advise. As you probably know, MAC is trying to help the aquarium and trade industry develop its own set of standards. This should help reduce the problems with current collection and transfer of coral reef species, making the industry and business better - and helping preserve the reefs. I figure that for those in the business of selling coral reef species, shipping mortality is lost business. Its also lost resources to the reefs. There must be a way to help feed the growing appetite of the US public for coral reef species without destroying the reefs where these things come from.

Anyway, I am currently the coordinator for NOAA to the US Coral Reef Task Force. I am also on the coral reef trade subgroup - I appreciate the time you've given me to share some things with you and look forward to your input. Just one more thing before I finish. Despite the statistics I mentioned before, there is actually a great need for additional information from hobbiests and those involved in the trade. We are eager to learn from you all - and find ways to preserve the reefs, this great hobby, and the business side too.Thanks for your patience. I'll stop here

Q and A

Do u see the hobbiests getting blamed for the destruction of the world's reefs, because we are the easy escape route?

I don't see hobbiests getting blamed for the destruction of the world's reefs. Actually in most reef areas the destructive impacts of overfishing (non aquarium collection) and pollution probably outweigh the impacts from aquarium collection. But in some areas the collection for aquarium trade has had major impacts. I believe this can be reversed and even prevented with some basic standards and good quality control - and increasing demands from both hobbiests and consumers for "sustainably collected" products. I'd love to get more information and your input - email is best but letters are good too. My info is:

roger.b.griffis@noaa.govAddress: DOC/NOAA, 14th and Constitution Ave, Washington, DC 20230

I will share all input with the Task Force subgroup on coral reef trade

I also suggest contacting and communicating your input with the Marine Aquarium Council.

Have members of the CRTF travelled to indo-pacific reefs, and talked to the collectors and "fisherfolk" there?

The CRTF has not travelled to the Indo reefs - they are meeting in American Samoa Aug 5-7 and thats the furthest west they've been. We've tryed hard to talk to many folks that do work in the Indo Pacific - and we rely on input from MAC andother groups that have much experience in this area. Several environmental groups too such as The Nature conservancy and World Wildlife Fund.

Do you think that aquaculture on the islands will help pull some of the burden away from the reefs in the long term?

We have had several meetings with aquarium importers and others from the industry as well. I'd love to go - many of us are going to the big International Coral Reef Science meeting in Bali in October. I'm hopeful that aquaculture on the islands (US and internationally) can help pull some of the burden off the living reefs.

What kind fo help are looking for from LFS's (Local Fish Store Owners)?

Good question (on local role) - I think it is increasing important to educate people/customers about buying good products. You don't want to sell things that are going to die right off - and helping customers understand that there is a difference in what they have to choose from (sustainably collected, aquacultured vs wild caught) is part of this education. I know we're not there yet - but I think its coming. The aquarium industry and local fish stores don't have to be painted as the bad guys - they should be the good guys.

What is being done about cyinide collecting practices worldwide?

I'm not an expert but I understand a lot is going on. Problem is its nearly impossible to test things for cyanide as they come into the US. If we could test accurately and regularly, this would help cut down on the use of cyanide for aquarium fish collection. People are working on other methods and this is one of the highest priority areas that MAC is working on.

How would they go about certification if that were a solution for the regulation of the terade so as to keep more species alive in transit and storage?

Its a simple idea but not simple in practice. Still it is the way to go. Basic idea is to set basic standards from start to finish - from the collection off the reef to the sale to customer from local fish store. Standards to include sustainable collection practices, basic handling and transport criteria (aeration, time, water changes etc), all the way to the local store. The idea is that this not only will help keep the reef species alive longer - it will help the folks in the industry by cutting down mortality (and lost sales) along the way. This is what the MAC council is working on - and they need all the input they can get. Its a complex problem as you can imagine because some of the standards (and certification, inspection) would have to happen in other countries - and as they come into the US.

What percentage of the yearly "imports" from the oceans would represent our hobbies take in live coral?

The US is the largest importer of coral reef species in the world. We import 80 to 90% of all coral traded every year; and about 50% of all the aquarium fish traded every year. The US hobbiests have a huge appetite for coral reef species (and other species).

Where do they plan on getting more funding??

Not sure what the question referred to - but I'll take the opportunity to talk a little about funding for coral reef conservation here in the US. This year - fiscal year 2000 - was the first year any US government Administration has EVER requested specific funding for coral reefs. Of the $12 million requested by NOAA for example, Congress gave us $6 million. This was absolutely fantastic - the first funding ever - and allowed us to begin mapping all US coral reefs (less than 5% of US reefs have been mapped) and begin putting together comprehensive reef monitoring programs with our partners in the states and territories that have coral reefs (even fewer US reefs are regularly monitored). We've asked for additional funding next year (a total request of $16 million) - the increase of $10 to fund additional research on coral reef diseases, and some for work on coral reef aquaculture and sustainable trade practices. The Congress is currently working on NOAA's budget but so far the picture is very bad. The House zeroed out all of NOAA's coral reef funding; the Senate may have done the same last week.. We will keep hoping.

Does the CRTF have a website?

The Coral Reef Task Force web site is coralreef.gov/

I am worried that the US is going to protect only the reefs in US territorial waters...will any new plans work to preserve reefs in other countries reefs?

Yes - several US agencies are working with other nation's to help them develop good managment plans, monitoring and enforcement for their reefs. NOAA is one. Dept Of the Interior is another - but the largest by far working in this area is the US Agency for Internatinoal Development (USAID). They are working with World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, MAC and others as well to help get other nations to do their part. Obviously in many other countries this boils down to basic economics - if we can help teach villages and nations to sustainably collect, they have jobs and products fo rthe future - thats the idea. Help villages and other nations sustainably collect from their reefs -and ensure they have products and jobs for tomorrow.

Is the CRTF going require that coral and reef fish importers PROVE that their "products" were collected in a sustainable manner?

Good question - who would be required to certify what is still a question. Right now the export nation is required to certify "sustainable collection" and nondestructive collection practices for those coral reef species listed under CITES. But in some cases this system is abused. Some combination perhaps of certification by the importer and the exporter might be the way to go - this is still an area to be determined.

Are there specific species of of marine animals that CRTF has identified that should not be collected?

We're just beginning to look at this - you all involved in the trade may know better than we about what species don't survive well. All of the hard corals are listed under the CITES which means they are at risk and require certificaiton by the export nation that they've been collected using sustainable means. But there is great concern that this is not working well and many of the primary export nations do not have adequate management plans and ability to put these management plans into place. I should also be sure to say that anything that might be required of other nations would also be required for collection/trade here in US waters. I think there is particular concern for the long-lived, large polyp species of corals that mentioned earlier - to name a few.

Wouldn't a solution to halting the imports of poisoned fish and corals be to set up an inspection station at the wolesalers site ? Sortof like government an inspector at a meat - packing plant to insure a healthy product.

Excellent idea - I think this is more like what the Phillipines has done. I understand this is working well there but that few other nations have followed their example. I understand the "proposed" legislation mentioned earlier was actually amended to a Marine Fisheries Bill by Sen. Snow but was rejected on a technicallity.

Why does the CRTF tell hobbyists they are on our side while they are trying to ban the hobby?

There were several coral reef related "bills" attached to bill to reauthorize the Magnuson--Stevens Fisheries Act sponsored by Senator Snowe as you suggest. The CRTF worked with MAC and others to provide the Senate with some ideas on how the federal govt might help prevent the trade of unsustainably harvested coral reef species. The legislation does not ban the import of coral reef species - it does not ban the hobby at all. What it does is begin setting the kinds of standards for what can be imported into the US - standards such as sustainable collection levels, nondestructive collection methods, and certification of these things. These would only apply to the coral species of highest concern - those listed on the CITES list. I believe that if the marine aquarium hobby and industry in the US is to be sustainable (and even grow!) it must be based on products that are not destroying the wild reefs. The customer base will not go for it - for me its not only good conservation, its good business.

Once the CRTF has come up with some findings, what will the vehicle be to carry them into action?

Really this is on two tracks - working closely with one another. The first is the possible legislation that was mentioned in the US Senate. The point is that the US govt has a role in all of this - (1) it is doing the inspections at the borders, and (2) it can help other nations make their exports sustainable. To do that means working closely with the industry. That is the second track - through MAC and other industry sections, we're hoping to have an industry -lead effort to establish standards and certification process. The hope is that the industry itself can lead the way here to best practices. So the key steps over the next year are (1) possible legislation and funding for the US govt to do its part, and (2) MAC and others helping the industry determine its own best practices and how to certify them. On funding - I'd just like to say that there is little to no funding to help make any of what I've said come true - just a thought. Plus lots of education on customers and hobbiests and folks like me!

Clinton has moved to protect large portions of US reefs from commercial traffic. Will this extend to the sailboats that cruise the Keys and Floribbean reefs?

This question may be referring to the President's recent announcement regarding "marine protected areas". The announcement calls for trying to link the existing marine protected areas into some sort of national network - no such thing exists right now. There were no new sites established that I know of. The existing sites I know of would not prevent sailboats from sailing through the area - there are very few "protected areas" at all in US waters. Only a few very small areas of the Florida keys (part of the Florida Keys Natinoal Marine Sanctuary) are even "no fishing". The CRTForce proposed in their National Action Plan that the US should try and set aside 20% of all US reefs as "no take" areas (essentially no fishing areas) by the year 2010. But this would not prevent sailboats.

We would like to be the first to thank Roger Griffis for coming by tonight. This has been a tremendously valuable talk.

If anyone needs more information or wants to share other thoughts, my contact info again is:

Roger B. Griffis, DOCommerce/NOAA, 14th and Constitution Ave, Washington, DC 20230

email is roger.b.griffis@noaa.gov.

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