Part 2: Overview of Trade in Aquatic Animal Commodities 2 “Whatever you do, do wisely, and think of the consequences.” Gesta Romanorum (13 4h century)

Why is Trade in Aquatic Animal Commodities so “Risky”? Movements of live aquatic animals and their products (“commodities”) have increased dramatically during the past 50 years. This parallels the growth of aquaculture and its increasing contribution to world food supplies. 3

Fastest food producing sector

Aquaculture Production Source: Hall, S. Blue Frontiers (2011), WorldFish Centre 91 % production from Asia, 62 % from China; 10 % from the rest of the world

Growth in Fish Exports, 1976–2005 US$ billion 6 Combined total export value = USD 78 billion

Driving Forces behind Increased Trade in Aquatic Animal Commodities This increased trade is due to: Trade liberalization/globalization World Trade Organization (WTO) Regional Trade Organizations (APEC, NAFTA, BIMP-EAGA, etc.) Growing global consumer demand Constantly changing consumer preferences Aquaculture sector growth & demands for new species 7

Why is Trade in Aquatic Animal Commodities so “Risky”? Extremely high volume of trade Poor knowledge base leads to high uncertainty. Lack of:  Information on basic biology, ecology, reproduction, etc.  Rigorous studies on impacts of exotics & transfers  Information on pathogens & their biology  Completed risk analyses  Quick & accurate diagnostics tests for many pathogens  Specialized expertise in all fields (including risk analysis) High frequency of new & emerging diseases Insufficient government policy & planning 8

International Trade in Live Aquatic Animals and their Products Characterized by a diverse range of species traded: fish crustaceans molluscs other invertebrates aquatic plants amphibians aquatic reptiles, birds & mammals 9

International Trade in Live Aquatic Animals and their Products Diverse range of reasons: ornamental/aquarium trade aquaculture development/maintenance food (live trade for restaurants & products) angling/sports fisheries development capture fisheries development/enhancement biological control research others (animal feeds, medicines, health products, etc.) 10

International Trade in Live Aquatic Animals and their Products Diverse range of commodities traded products in various forms: fresh/frozen - whole dead, whole eviscerated, head on/head off, filets, steaks, roe processed - cooked, dried, salted, smoked, pickled, canned, refined into meal & oil genetic material - gametes, DNA others: vaccines, sera, scientific specimens, souvenirs, etc. 11

International Trade in Live Aquatic Animals and their Products Diverse range of life-cycle stages traded live aquatic animals broodstock juveniles fry postlarvae nauplii fertilized eggs 12

International Trade in Live Aquatic Animals & their Products Volumes traded can be extremely high. World-wide: Over 1 billion ornamental fishes traded each year 4000 freshwater and 1400 marine ornamental species traded Ornamentals originate from some 100 countries 13

International Trade in Live Aquatic Animals & their Products FAO estimated that the 2001 wholesale value of the world ornamental trade was US$ 900 million, while the retail value was US$ 3 billion. 14

International Trade in Live Aquatic Animals & their Products Examples: Malaysia alone produced some 338 million freshwater ornamentals in 2001, including 293 million freshwater fish belonging to > 90 species. Australia imports 8-10 million ornamental every year 15

International Trade in Live Aquatic Animals & their Products Trade in Live Aquatic Animals for “food production” aquaculture: Not well documented, but at least 240 species of aquatic animals and plants are cultured globally. Numbers can be quite high – for example, in 1995 some 50 million nauplii and postlarvae of giant tiger prawn were imported into Bangladesh, primarily from Thailand, India and Myanmar, to support the country’s developing shrimp culture industry. 16

The Central Problem All movements of live aquatic animals involve an element of pathogen, genetic and/or ecological risk 17

Key Points Aquaculture continues to expand globally, while world capture fisheries are stagnant or in decline. Future growth in supplies of fish and shellfish for an expanding human population will have to be met by continued aquaculture growth. Billions of aquatic animals are moved annually for a wide variety of reasons, the ornamental trade and aquaculture development being the two most important. Almost all movements of aquatic animal commodities involve an element of ecological, pathogen or genetic risk. 18

Key Points The nature of world trade in aquatic animals is such that it is impossible for most countries to conduct detailed health inspections or quarantine all the animals being imported. In view of the current world trade situation, a national policy of “zero risk” is not realistic. Risk analysis can be used to aid decision making and examine ways to reduce risk. It is often possible to reduce risk to an “acceptable” level. 19

20 Clown fish – aquarium fish exporter in Manado, Indonesia