Humphead Wrasse Working Group (HHW-WG) established by the Standing Committee pursuant to Decision 15.87

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1 Humphead Wrasse Working Group (HHW-WG) established by the Standing Committee pursuant to Decision Summary Notes from Supplementary Meeting to Inform the HHW WG September 18 th, 2012 (prepared by Yvonne Sadovy, co-chair IUCN Groupers & Wrasses Specialist Group and University of Manchester in consultation with meeting participants) 1. General meeting notes on key points discussed: A meeting was held in Jakarta on 18 th September to discuss the key points (a) to (e) below. This meeting was discussed in advance with Mr. Alfred Wong, Chair of the WG and is a contribution to the CITES-established Working Group on Humphead (=Napoleon) wrasse. This meeting was convened by the IUCN Groupers & Wrasses Specialist Group. Additional relevant information was also presented at a meeting on 19 th September on the Indonesian NPoA for this species and is included herein where relevant. [See Attendance Register below for 18 th September meeting]. Note that Mr. Philip McGowan was present to conduct a conservation planning meeting in the afternoon of 18 th September. Parties present reported that a number of additional measures intended specifically to improve enforcement of the CITES App II listing of the Napoleon wrasse; i.e. over and above CITES requirements, have been introduced (see below). Indonesia informed the meeting about recent activities being conducted in Anambas Islands (western Indonesia) communities on rearing Napoleon fish from wild-caught juveniles to sizes that can be traded live. The activities are largely carried out by communities according to their traditional knowledge (i.e. using traditional gear). However, until currently the CITES MA of Indonesia has not accommodated this activity into the CITES mechanism. Thus, it is possible that the fishes were illegally exported by sea on Hong Kong vessels and apparently go into Mainland China where this trade appears to be largely unmonitored. The situation in Anambas is only recently known by the Indonesian MA. Control of international trade in frozen Napoleon fish may be challenge. It would be appropriate to conduct a risk analysis to assist in enforcement of vessels, for which control is particularly challenging. At the national level in exporting countries of the region the use of cyanide was reported for catching this fish as it appears to be the only efficient way to catch this species given the high demand by traders. Both capture and export of cyanide-caught fish is illegal. An exception was reported for the Anambas Is. where the small size of the fish caught allows a scoop net to be used as the fishing method. 1

2 It was reported that one route into Mainland China is transshipment by vessels outside of Hong Kong waters. In some cases these vessels transfer fish to small fishing boats that enter Mainland China and Hong Kong (at the border with Mainland China) and that might not be subject to monitoring. Data on imports to Mainland China could not be located. According to the CITES trade database for no imports into Mainland China of Napoleon were reported. NOTE: s were sent to Mr. Zhongze, CITES Management Authority, China, with invitation (with funding) to the Jakarta meeting and also requesting information on trade in Napoleon fish within Mainland China but no replies were received China CITES Management Authority/The Endangered Species Import and Export Management Office, P.R.China). It is not known if the communication was received. A recently completed study (conducted visits to traders, retail outlets and interviews of traders) by WWF-Hong Kong in major Mainland Chinese cities estimated at least 23,000 HHW annually entering major cities in the Mainland. See also report on live fish trade Note that the official global trade in this species (according to the Indonesian quota the main legal source of this species) should be in the order of a few thousand fish, according to legal export quotas. Given the high number evidently on sale in Mainland China and the high numbers evidently exported from Indonesia (particularly Anambas) this suggests that most trade (by volume) in the species is IUU, including with use of illegal capture methods and export mode. Some success in mariculture production was reported by the Indonesian exporter UD Bali Minatama even though its practice is still at the initial stages (similar to the progress reported by Gondol laboratory in Bali). The Company reported that its facility has successfully bred Napoleon fish some of which are currently in the juvenile size range and a film was shown that indicated that the company had successfully bred and hatched the species. The company will continue its breeding operations until the volume of Napoleon fish produced can be commercially traded. However, the CITES MA of Indonesia needs assistance and seeks support so that the breeding operations will form the basis for commercial trade someday in the future. Note that an invitation to attend the 18 th September Jakarta meeting was sent to Lye Fong Keng AD/Wildlife Section, Quarantine & Inspection Department, Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority (LYE_Fong_Keng@ava.gov.sg) of Singapore. She was not able to come but forwarded a report on 10 th September that shows imports to Singapore and no reexports (circulated). All export of live HHW from the Philippines is illegal according to national laws on CITES-listed aquatic species. 2. Specific items for points a)-e) of the HHW-WG mandate: a) consider adopting appropriate stricter domestic measures under the remit of the legislation of the Party, including limiting the international trade in humphead wrasse to be conducted by air only, to 2

3 strengthen the control and enforcement of the Appendix-II listing for the species; a. Stricter domestic measures : Indonesia: decree of DG Forest Protection and Nature Conservation permits export by air-only since Exporters for HHW must be registered (only 6 companies) and boxes of live fish are sealed at some airports prior to export-export; licences can be withdrawn if exporter breaks the law. There are 27 airports that allow exports from Indonesia, however until 2012 only 3 airports have implemented joint investigation on sealed boxes of HHW at airports prior to export. NOTE: Despite measures high volumes of illegal exports of HHW evidently occur by sea from Anambas (circa 40 tonnes annually of kg fish currently). In addition to the Anambas Fishery Officer presentation at the meeting on 19 th September, several press reports are available which suggest the scale of the Anambas activity - [e.g. Perikanan-di-Lombok]. The Philippines - all CITES- listed aquatic animals are prohibited from being caught or exported. Note: Illegal catch and export is widely believed to continue (e.g confiscation at Ninoy Aquino International Airport-mixed fish shipment bound for HK with groupers). Also illegal grow-out culture in Pangasinan. Boat exports believed to move out from Tawi-Tawi and Sibutu. b) improve monitoring of trade in humphead wrasse, especially through inspections of boxes of mixed live reef fish by exporting, re-exporting and importing countries; Indonesia - export of HHW cannot be mixed in with other fish species Malaysia - export of HHW alive or frozen is not allowed. For export of other live reef fish, mixture of species in the same box are not allowed to ensure easy inspection & detection of HHW that might be illegally included in the shipment. Frozen fish export is under Malaysia fisheries development board and it's unclear if they have such provision. But the Fisheries Department as the CITES management authority is working closely with the board to curb the smuggling of frozen HHW. There is a possibility that frozen HHW are exported illegally as it is very difficult to trace them especially when mixed with other frozen fish of other species. Seafood consumers awareness campaign was launched in Sabah on the 1st of September 2012 discouraging restaurant patrons to include HHW and coral trout on their menus: some seafood restaurants in Sabah, in supporting the conservation of live reef fish, are getting their supply only from sources (fishermen or cage farmers) recognized by the government in practicing sustainable fishing/ sustainable aquaculture. 3

4 Note: Smuggling from Tawi-Tawi (Philippines) to Sabah (Malaysia) and out to Hong Kong. Mixed fish shipments of groupers exported by sea can include live HHW; smuggling of juvenile HHW for grow-out in Sabah, is believed not only from Tawi-Tawi but from other parts of neighbouring countries as well. It has been reported and believed that the export of live reef fish by sea might include HHW. Philippines agreed that HHW should be separate from other fish species when exported in frozen form (even if other species can be mixed in shipment) HHW should be separate. c) exchange law enforcement information of relevance to humphead wrasse with other relevant Parties, and regularly compile and forward to the Secretariat for distribution a comprehensive summary of Convention violations for the species; It was felt that communication between Parties could be improved. One suggestion was to strengthen the network of CITES MAs by organizing a focal person who could keep track of issues, update communication details etc. It was also suggested that ASEAN- WEN could be a forum for exchange of enforcement information, if this is relevant. d) increase awareness of the CITES listing for humphead wrasse, including by improving identification capacity among law enforcement officers through the use of training and educational materials; Indonesia conducts training for law enforcement on identification of the species. e) facilitate discussion on practicable and acceptable options for action to be taken in case of illegally imported/confiscated live fish A discussion on this issue included consideration on repatriation but with questions about how this would be financed. It was asked whether the confiscating country can sell the fish by auction and put the money into the conservation of the species. IUCN guidelines are available that provide guidance on confiscations. ATTENDANCE REGISTER NAME ORGANIZATION ADDRESS Puja Utama Dit. KKH-PHKA Utama_puja@yahoo.com Edwyn B. Alesna Bureau of Fisheries, Philippines edwyn_alesna@yahoo.com Lawrence Kissol Jr Marine Resources Management Branch Department of Fisheries Sabah, Malaysia 4 kissol2@yahoo.com, Lawrence.kissol@sabah.gov.my

5 Badiah Dit. KKH Evi Haerlina KKH-PHKA Ridwan PNJ-KKH Suryo Kusumo AKKII Agus Pramono AKKII Heru Perumo Pulau Mas Widano Pulau Mas Sasanti R. Suharti LIPI P2O Philip McGowan IUCN SSC Species Planning Sub- Committee Wenni SDK-Ekoper Hadi Sarminto Dit. KK2-KKP Nandang Prihadi KKH-PHKA Rinto Andhi IPB Vivian S Puskonser vivavaliandra@gmail.com Prabowo KKJI-KP3K bowo44@yahoo.com Heri Rasdhana Dit. KKJI-KP3K heras.ktnl@gmailcom Eka Nurmala Sari? nurmalasari_eka@yahoo.com Yvonne Sadovy University of Hong Kong, IUCN yjsadovy@hku.hk Groupers & Wrasses Specialist Group Joko Supriyanto PSDKP-KKP? Tuelha Miasto KKJI-KP3K Setiawan? UD Bali Minatama Baliminatama@hotmail.com 5