Aquarium Collection SustainabilityPlanning for the Future

Dennis A. Thoney, Ph.D.Vancouver Aquarium

Chair Aquatic Collection Sustainability Committee, AZA

Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)

•Terrestrial Collections Sustainability Committee

•Aquatic Collections Sustainability Committee

•Overfishing

•Habitat destruction

•Release of chemicals & nutrients into the environment

•Inadequate transport and holding procedures for animals

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

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

Aquarium and Zoo Aquatic Collection Sustainability Action Plan

The ten action items for the Aquatic Sustainable Collection Plan are outlined below. 1) Ensure that governmental regulations do not prevent public education and conservation

facilities from acquiring fishes and invertebrates from natural habitats. AZA Govt Affairs, 2) 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 association’s government affairs departments informed of regulatory changes that affect the trade of aquatic animals.

C) Request that aquarium and zoo association’s 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).

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 lista. 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 committeea. Determine whether AZA and EUAC (or EAZA) should have separate committees.b. Determine committee structure and how it will operate.c. 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.

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 SeahorseB) 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.A)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

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 sharksA) 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.