Did you observe low levels of Reef Check indicator species like butterfly fish and banded coral shrimp?
Both butterfly fish and banded coral shrimp are targeted by the aquarium fish trade. However, only specific species of butterfly fish are caught for the marine ornamental trade. These include the golden butterfly fish and the copper band butterfly fish. Therefore low levels of these particular species may be an indication that aquarium fishing is occurring in your area. However, if levels of many or all reef fish are low, this may be an indication of overfishing or habitat degradation caused by land-based activities, boating impacts and nutrient pollution. • Are similar species of corals missing? The marine ornamental trade typically focuses their collection on specific species and sizes of corals. If you have observed a low abundance of certain species of coral, aquarium collecting may be an issue of concern. • Are there local business focused on the marine ornamental trade? The presence of local businesses that sell and export aquarium fish, invertebrates, and live coral are an indic
