John Brandt’s USCRTF Report
Excerpt of transcript from
MASNA October 2002 BOD Meeting
In the year 2000, less than 10% of American reefs had been formally mapped. By 2002 the number has reached 70%. By 2006 all reefs should be mapped. This will be 3 years ahead of schedule.
In 2001 the National Coral Reef Action Plan had 13 goals, 40 objectives, and 150 actions. In 2002 the National Coral Reef Action Strategy has 200 accomplishments, and 300 actions.
150 tons of marine debris (mainly discarded nets) have been removed from the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. The Coast Guard will soon be removing another 10 tons.
Toxic material is leaking from unexploded ordinance off Vieques.
USCRTF lists the threats of coral reefs in this order:
1) Coastal Development and Runoff.
2) Coastal Pollution.
3) Fishing Impacts.
4) Ship and Boat Groundings.
5) Coral Diseases
6) Offshore Oil and Gas Exploration.
By the end of the meeting the threats had been revised to:
1) Land Based Sources of Pollution.
2) Overfishing.
3) Lack of Public Awareness.
4) Tourism and Recreational Overuse/Misuse.
5) Climate Change.
6) tons of alien species algae was removed from Waikiki, Hawaii in 2 weeks. This algae was introduced 20 years ago by scientists working on aquaculture research.
Coral reef coverage in the Florida Keys is down 38% between 1996 and 1999.
The Department of Justice will not allow the USCRTF to recommend any particular certification system (i.e. MAC). This prevents what would appear to be Gov't. favoritism.
The Trade Subgroup proposes 2 taxa for listing on CITES Appendix II. The Humphead Wrasse (Napolean Wrasse) and Seahorses. Also being strongly considered for Appendix II are Sea Cucumbers.
USCRTF supports the efforts of MAC.
There is a 10-30% annual growth in the international trade in coral reef species.
USCR Ecosystems Report: Experts estimate 66% of all coral reefs are degraded, 11% are beyond help.
Disease Report: 66% of all disease reports and 80% of all diseases and syndromes come from the Caribbean. Even though the Caribbean only has 8% of all coral reefs.
Bristleworms have been identified as a possible disease vector
Statement of Findings from the Trade Sub-Group:
International trade continues to drive overexploitation and destructive collection methods.
Aquarium trade continues to increase 10-30% annually. Live coral trade has increased 400% and live rock trade has increased 1700% since 1988.
The number of species in the trade is well over 1000.
The US continues to import 60-80% of the live coral, over 50% of the curio coral, and 95% of the live rock and reef substrate in the international trade.
Over 400 species have been identified as inappropriate for the aquarium trade
International trade in corals and coral reef species continues to be largely unregulated, unreported, and illegal.
International trade in wildlife is associated with money laundering and drug trade, as reported by IMA and WWF
Q&A Session Follows:
<JBrandt> Let me take some questions right now. I spent lots of time with Dept of Interior, Commerce, NOAA, FWS, EPA, Trade Commission
<Duane_Dennis> was there a sense that the increasing demand in the trade would lead to further legislation? and if so , in what areas?
<JennM> esp as it pertains to seahorses?
<JBrandt> Duane, not further legislation, just the need for the legis. that they have already written..but they are really standing by for the industry to regulate itself. they want the industry to do it ourselves, not by their way.
<Duane_Dennis> that's good as long as the trade does such. increased enforcement then?
<JBrandt> They are watching MAC very closely and are keenly aware of its potential shortcomings. I can't tell you all how much of an honor it is for me to meet with such a group of brilliant and devoted people as are the USCRTF. It was very emotional for me to be in conversation with USAID and MAC simultaneously. It was as if the future of aquarium keeping was being planned right there at the base of the old fort wall in San Juan..
<Duane_Dennis> thanks JB, I think it's important that you do spend alot of time with those folks. It's in all our best interests to foster good communications with them.
<Lee_Morey> John what you do is one of the most important assets of MASNA
<Nancy> John, we were proud to have you represent us as average hobbyists!
<carvster> john, yes, i know that is the goal but there is also reality. i am for educating folks so they want certified fish, but this may be an interim solution to get more retailers on board.
<jt> IMO, cyanide won't be around much longer.
<Lee_Morey> I certainly hope it won't
<carvster> if we work on the education and they see the certification working they may be willing to hold longer on losses if they know they can sell uncertified if need be. hopefully they won't.
<JBrandt> jt, I hope you are right.
<carvster> won't sell uncertified, that is.
<jt> john: if not, the hobby won't be around anymore so it's moot.
<JBrandt> Carv, if we can get to 80% of the fish in the US being net caught we will be living in an entirely different world. BTW, I spent lots of time with Mike King of CORL too.
<JBrandt> I almost forgot something...I asked Barbara Best if she would do an online chat for MASNA, like on RC or Reefs.org...she said yes. She is very interested in correcting the widespread rumor that the USCRTF is about a ban...they have no interest whatsoever in stopping the hobby.
I spent time with Andy B. in Puerto Rico...he's the one working on the sea cucumber status. cucumbers are being wiped out in many tropical locations for export to Asia.. they are even being harvested in massive quantities in American waters... all of this stuff gets eaten in Asia.
Seahorses, about 90% get sent to Asia for consumption...they are nearly extinct from certain regions. And the Hump Head Wrasse, nearly gone because of the live food trade.
Panther groupers are completely missing from many regions...all eaten in Hong Kong.
Barbara Best is from USAID (an agency within USCRTF that deals with trade issues)...it will give the online community a chance to ask questions of the USCRTF...
<jt> john: it would be a great follow-up to Mike Kings talk about CORL that he gave on Sunday on reefs.org.
<Lee_Morey> yes, it would
<JBrandt> I read the transcript of Mike's talk...and he gave me a copy of his proposal in Puerto Rico. Mike is going to Samoa for a couple years...
<JBrandt> Yes, JT it was a good talk. Much has occurred since then as well. Wait til you guys read the results of a national poll that was taken...well over half of Americans polled think there should be Govt regulation of the marine aquarium industry.
<carvster> cool. jt, is the talk archived on reefs.org? i need to go over there and look around a bit. it's been a while.
<jt> carvster: http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/m_king_100602.html
The report for the recent USCRTF meeting can be found here: http://www.coris.noaa.gov/activities/actionstrategy/actionstrategy.html
Also on line is the report, The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States, Its long but there's some good info in it. http://www.nccos.noaa.gov/library/notables.html
October 2002
USCRTF Summary of Meeting held in SanJuan, Puerto Rico
The State of Coral Reef Ecosystems of the United States and Pacific Freely Associated States
Mike King's talk on www.reefs.org
