Fishery, Trade and Management

 

 

In parts of the western Pacific, notably Palau, Fiji, Cook Islands, Yap and Pohnpei, the Humphead wrasse has, or had, strong cultural significance and was formerly only available to higher ranking members of Society. This may partially account for the many different names by which this species is known, often several names in one location, according to colour phase and size. In English the species is mostly commonly referred to as the Humphead, Maori or Napoleon wrasse.

 

The Humphead wrasse is caught in different ways according to its size, whether it is needed alive or dead and depending on local traditions. Smaller individuals may be attracted by bait of cut or living fish and crabs on hook and line or fish traps: special traps are used in the Solomon Islands. Recently, cyanide has been used to extract the fish from among corals if fish are to be maintained alive. Cyanide seems to be particularly widely used where this species was not formerly part of a traditional fishery and the poison is often introduced or supplied by foreign, especially Chinese traders in live reef fish. When the species is not wanted alive, it may be speared, often in its resting places and at night, such as in Palau, Tahiti and Fiji. Overall, Humphead wrasse is particularly vulnerable to fishers using cyanide and working on compressed air, as well as when taken at night from caves in which they sleep.

 

While there is some capture for local use, particularly in the western and central Pacific, the Humphead wrasse is nowadays primarily taken for export as part of the valuable live reef food fish trade (LRFFT) which is centred in SE Asia. All animals in this trade are wild-caught since commercial level hatchery propagation of this species is not yet possible. The major importing countries are China (especially Hong Kong), Taiwan and Singapore. Animals are exported especially from Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and from some western Pacific Islands.

 

Hong Kong is the biggest consumer/transshipment centre for the live seafood market, including for the Humphead wrasse. Hong Kong re-exports significant but undocumented volumes of Humphead wrasse into mainland, particularly southern, China, according to traders and to market surveys.

 

 

Estimated minimum volumes of imports of Humphead wrasse into Hong Kong from 2001-2005 (Aug), based on both Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department (CSD) data (by air or non-HK-licensing vessels), and Hong Kong Agriculture Fishery and Conservation Department (AFCD) data (by HK-licensing vessels).

CSD import volumes (kg)*

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

(Jan-Aug)

Australia

0

2,651

49

0

2,651

0

Cambodia

1,479

 0

 0

0

0

0

Indonesia

875

499

5,344

2,526

544

3,823

Malaysia

4,503

3,438

2,497

2,541

2,730

0

Philippines

5,055

5,343

20,752

11,191

5,8893

142

Thailand1

30,483

0

0

0

0

0

Vietnam

4

360

0

16

89

0

PNG

 0

 0

 0

0

 0

3,516

Sub-totals (kg)

 42,399

12,291

28,642

15,434

9,174

7,181

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AFCD2

import volumes(kg) **

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005 (Jan-Aug)

 

38,673

24,660

20,031

30,127

24,219

24,566

Total import (CSD + AFCD) (kg)

81,072

36,951

48,673

45,561

33,393

31,747

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% HHW import by HK-licensing vessels

47.7

66.7

41.2

66.1

72.5

77.4

 

*, All countries by air, except PNG by non-HK-licensing vessels (CSD data),

 

**, mainly from Indonesia (AFCD data).

 

1This source country may well be an error since this species is not known to be taken, or occur, in Thailand in appreciable numbers. Trade contacts suggest that the true origin is likely to be Indonesia because most Humphead wrasse in recent years come from Indonesia, and because much of the export from Indonesia is of illegal sized fish and so the source country is often hidden: Humphead wrasse for Indonesia often are shipped by sea and sea imports are less well documented than air shipments into Hong Kong. Another possibility is illegal trade from the Maldives, Andaman Is., or Myanmar.

 

2 Hong Kong-licensed vessels (HK vessels) are exempted from declaring live fish, so AFCD introduced a voluntary data collection program in 1997 whereby imports by major importers are recorded and compiled monthly. The data in the table are double those provided to AFCD estimate that they obtain only about 50% of the actual landings in Hong Kong from the data collecting program.This program includes data from 8 major exporters using Hong Kong-licensed vessels. An independent survey of Hong Kong-licensed vessel imports noted source countries to be overwhelmingly from Indonesia over the 3-month study period. (C. Chu, unpublished data).

 

3Humphead wrasse caught elsewhere in the western Pacific have been shipped through the Philippines and claimed as being of Philippines origin. This tactic has been evidently used by operators to circumvent laws and regulations (for example a temporary moratorium in the Solomon Is.), but possibly also to mask the potential presence of ciguatera in fishes harvested from localities where the toxin is known to occur (G. P. Reyes, personal communication).

 

The Humphead wrasse is managed in several countries although enforcement is reportedly poor in most places. There is, for example, import of illegal sized fish into Hong Kong from Indonesia, and the capture fishery of this species is rarely monitored, anywhere.

 

 

Trend in Humphead wrasse price

 

Wholesale and retail prices of HHW in HK in 1990-2003 were summarized (Johannes & Riepen, 1995; Dragon Search Report, 1996; Lau & Parry-Jones, 1999; McGilvray & Chan, 2001, 2003; this survey): 

 

Price(USD/kg)

1990-1996

1997

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2005

Wholesale

60-80

50-100

45-70

45-70

50-65

50-70

25-95

27-111

Retail

150-190

90-170

 90-120

90-120

70-125

85-125

-

100-150

 

Wholesale and retail prices were also investigated through interviewing wholesale traders and seafood restaurant owners in Hong Kong and Guangzhou (Guangzhou Huangsha Seafood Wholesale Market) in December 2005; according to interviewees, the wholesale and retail prices in Hong Kong are stable within the 5-10 year period, in general. Dead HHW are at low price in HK market; 117-133 HKD/kg (15-18 USD/kg).

 

 

Size (BW or TL)

Price (HKD)

Price (USD=7.5HKD)

Wholesale in HK

30-40cm

50-70cm

5 kg/fish

600 g/fish

2.5-3.5kg/fish

0.6-1kg/fish

1.2-1.8kg/fish

2-5kg/fish

<5kg/fish

600-800g/fish

>3kg/fish

>20kg/fish

600-800g/fish

600g/fish (25cm TL)

1.5 kg/fish (40cm TL)

500/fish

900/fish

1,000/fish/(200/kg)

460/fish(765/kg)

300/kg

800/kg

800/fish

430/kg

300/kg

650-700/kg

260/kg

130-160/kg

830/kg

480/fish (800/kg)

900/fish (600/kg)

65/fish

120/fish

130/fish(27/kg)

61/fish(102/kg)

40/kg

107/kg

107/fish

57/kg

40/kg

87-93/kg

35/kg

17-21/kg

111/kg

64/fish (107/kg)

120/fish (80/kg)

Wholesale price range

 

 

27-111/kg

Retail in HK

600 g/fish

30-35 cm

450/fish (750/kg)

1000-1100/kg

60/fish (100/kg)

130-150/kg

Retail price range

 

 

60-150/kg

Wholesale in Guangzhou

500 g/fish

> 1 kg/fish

960/kg

360/kg

128/kg

48/kg

Wholesale in Guangzhou

 

 

48-128/kg

 

Different colors in the same row represent different interviewees.

 

Fishery and Export Regulations for the Capture and Trade in Cheilinus undulatus

[*TL = total length]

 

In 2004 the species was listed on CITES Appendix II and now requires export permits

 

Country

Regulation

Implementation date/source

Australia

Western Australia – complete protection since May 1998 because stocks determined to be insufficient and susceptible to overfishing.

From December 1st, 2003, Coral Reef Fin Fish Management Plan (for Queensland waters, including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park) prohibits all take and possession of humphead wrasse, other than for limited educational purposes and public display.

Implemented.
Pogonoski et al., 2002;
Fish Resources Management Act, 1994.
(http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/fishweb/131510.htm)

Indonesia

Fishing permitted if :

  • Done by researcher (with research permit) for the purpose of scientific and mariculture development, as well as by artisanal fishers (with specific fishing permit).
  • Allowable weights are 1 to 3 kg. Fish with weight less than 1 kg and more than 3 kg should be used for mariculture and/or freed to nature.
  • Allowable fishing methods for catching humphead wrasse are hook and line, fish trap and gill net.
  • With regards to artisanal fishers involve in fisheries business partnership, the fishers should sell the fish to its collector partners.
  • Collector and exporters should develop a rearing and culturing facility in the collection site which is equipped with staff knowledgeable in reef fish culture.

·         Provincial Fisheries Services much monitor, control and report on permits and volumes 3-monthly.

Directorate General of Fisheries No: HK.330/S3.6631/96 amending HK.330/DJ.8253/95. There is no implementaion, data could not be obtained and there is widespread use of the mariculture exemption to take juveniles from the wild and hold them until sale.

Maldives

All exports of Humphead wrasse were banned in 1995, largely due to concern for recreational diving, a sector that values this species

Anderson and Waheed, 1997; Shakeel, 1994.

New Caledonia

Catch of humphead wrasse not permitted during spearfishing competitions. Occasional poaching may occur in marine protected areas. Not exported.

M. Kulbicki, personal communication.

Niue

The interference, take, kill, or bringing to shore of the humphead wrasse is prohibited without written approval.

Niue Domestic Fishing Regulations, 1996.

Palau

Illegal to fish, buy or sell humphead wrasse < 64 cm TL. Illegal to export humphead wrasse irrespective of size.

Appears to be implemented.
Palau, Domestic Fishing Laws 1998
(27 PNCA 1024).

Papua New Guinea

There is a 65 cm minimum size limit for exporting humphad wrasse but this does not prevent fishers from catching and holding smaller humphead wrasse in cages (culturing) until they attain 65 cm TL. All live fish operators are required to obtain licenses.

Implementation unknown. National Gazette No. G99, June 17, 2002; Anas et al undated; P.Lokani, personal communication.

Philippines

Exports of all live fish are technically prohibited throughout the Philippines but this part of the code is evidently not implemented. Until recently humphead wrasse could not be exported from Palawan with an exemption for the taking of small fish for mariculture. The Palawan regulation is pending reconsideration. There was much illegal movement of this species outside of Palawan for subsequent export.

No implementation. Philippine Fisheries Code of 1998 - Republic Act 8550. February 25, 1998; Barber and Pratt, 1997.

 

(Information extracted from:  The humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus: synopsis of a threatened and poorly known giant coral reef fish. by Sadovy, Y, Kulbicki M., Labrosse P., Letourneur Y., Lokani, P., and T. J. Donaldson. Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries 13(3): 327-364. <There is an error in Table 7 in the column for the year 2003 in the above reference. The corrected CSD total for January to September is 12,203, the AFCD total is correct at 12,159. All other numbers from the 2003 column should be removed.>)

 

For more information please refer to:

 

http://www.humpheadwrasse.info/page/FAO_ad_hoc.pdf

FAO ad hoc committee on CoP13 proposal HHW

 

http://www.iucn.org/webfiles/doc/SSC/CoP12/Analyses/1238.pdf

Appendix II proposal for humphead wrasse CoP 12 2002

 

http://www.tracc.00server.com/Fisheries/cyanide/regional_threat.html

Regional threats to the humphead wrasse in SE Asia

 

http://www.getinvolved.qld.gov.au/emblem/ss_wrasse.html

Selecting Queensland's state emblem species - humphead wrasse

 

http://www.humpheadwrasse.info/IUCN_underwater_final_report_2006.pdf

New Report on Trade & Underwater Visual Census