National – New Initiatives to Address Illegal Aquarium Trade

[sharkdude]

National ââ"šÂ¬Ã¢â‚¬Å“ New Initiatives to Address Illegal Aquarium Trade

Last week, the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force announced a new conservation initiative aiming for stronger enforcement of aquarium reef fish trade harvesting regulations. The task force will examine the use of cyanide and other poisons in the collection of reef fish on the global market. Although illegal in most countries, the use of cyanide to capture reef fish alive is widespread, and is driven by the lucrative, growing and largely unregulated international trade in live reef food fish and marine aquarium industry. This study will research field-based cyanide detection tests for use by enforcement authorities. Tests capable of producing reliable results several weeks after exposure to cyanide could help to restrict suspected illegal imports.

For more information, read the NOAA Press Release

 

[sharkdude]

pic from press release:

 

[laverda]

I hope they can come up with a way to detect cyanide in captured fish an but a stop to the practice. It is not good for anyone especially hobbyist, as it is the cause of many deaths in newly acquired fish.

 

[stinkyfish]

Chris, Thanks for keeping us up to date on these type of topics.