United Nations promotes legitimate trade in aquarium fish
The United Nations Environmental Program has raised its support for the legitimate trade of aquarium fish.
According to a UNEP report, “From Ocean to Aquarium: The Global Trade in Marine Ornamentals,” supplying fish for home and office aquariums has become a $300 million global business. The detailed report found that most marine species are taken from waters in South Asia and sold in Europe, Japan and the United States.
“The global trade in marine species on the one hand poses a significant risk to valuable ecosystems like coral reefs, but on the other has great potential as a source of desperately needed income for local fishing communities,” said Klaus Toepfer, UNEP’s executive director.
“If managed properly, the aquarium industry could support long-term conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs in regions where other options for generating revenue are limited,” Mark Collins, director of UNEP’s World Conservation Monitoring Center, added.