Threatened Freshwater fishes in the aquarium trade

Salome Lebanidze

Master's thesis

Abstract:

Fish trade for pet purposes Every year, an estimated one billion freshwater fish from more than 5,300 species are traded internationally as pets. The trade of freshwater fish from the countries of origin for domestic pet use is increasing from year to year and its incudes exporting threatened fishes from the origin countries. Such act of humans threatened the sustainability, and we may face to extension of some fishes. Some of the main issues raised about the sustainability of the freshwater aquarium industry include the fact that overfishing and habitat destruction have resulted from the trade in wild fish, as well as the escapes and intentional releases of aquarium fish into habitats outside of their native range. Millions of enthusiasts engage in the aquarium hobby, also known as ornamental fishkeeping, all over the world. Most freshwater ornamental fish and invertebrates are bred in captivity, in contrast to marine fish. These animals are currently produced both locally and imported from more than many countries. With dozens of very common species, several hundred species and their captive-bred morphs are well-liked and frequently accessible on the market. Fish trade in India with the legal aspects The collection of fish species for the aquarium trade in India, which is home to the greatest concentration of endemic freshwater fishes in continental Asia, is completely open access, unregulated, and even encouraged by some governmental and semi-governmental organizations. Indian hotspots known for their exceptional freshwater biodiversity and endemism, the Eastern Himalaya and Western Ghats, are where the majority of wild caught aquarium fish originate. Less than half of the 200 freshwater fish species that have been taken from the Eastern Himalaya for trade are currently exported. Similar to this, only about a dozen of the more than 100 species that have been traded from the Western Ghats are regularly exported. Thousands of live animals and animal products are sold all over the world as a result of billion-dollar worth wildlife trade. It is remarkable that most of the times the current legal restrictions are ineffective. Although the trade in wildlife can be legal, it is frequently unregulated and can be harmful to the animals. This illegal trade causes serious issues like the eradication of wild species from their natural habitats, uncontrolled captive breeding, the introduction of invasive species, and the spread of deadly pathogens. It can harm a host country's native biota in addition to endangering the survival of threatened species. Whole communities that depend on wildlife resources for tourism can suffer from the uncontrollable exploitation of wild species which can affect a lot of people. Research purpose and findings The purpose of this thesis was to analyse data on freshwater fish export from India and measure the possible consequences of the trade for different freshwater species. The final results were obtained after gathering all the data and analysing it. The main goal was to determine which fish species were exported most frequently, along with the quantity, cost, and final destination countries. The IUCN Red List statuses of the ten species of freshwater that are exported the most were investigated based on the results that were obtained. The most exported fish, Tetraodon travancoricus, is endangered, and its population is declining yearly, according to the results. Dawkinsia denisonii and Parambassis lala, the other species from the fish species that are exported the most, are experiencing declining populations. Additionally, Dawkinsia denisonii represents an endangered fish species and Parambassis lala represents a near-threatened species, which shows a serious threat to the extinction of this species. According to the research, when it comes to the trade in freshwater fish, Germany is the top importer. While Kolkata is India's primary export hub. The research conducted for this thesis revealed that

Abstract:

a total of 130 species were exported from India to 14 different countries. The analysis of the findings is presented in this thesis' discussion and conclusion. Additionally, it identifies the issues surrounding the current export of freshwater fish from India and any potential negative effects of this act. It also makes suggestions for future improvement measures that could be taken to increase the sustainability of the fish trade.

Keywords

pet trade, fish export destination countries, export from India

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 15. 4. 2023

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 15. 5. 2023
• Supervisor: prof. Ing. Lukáš Kalous, Ph.D.
• Reader: Sachin Gosavi, externi

Czech University of Life Sciences Prague

Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources

Master programme:
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security