JessiccaSave our Seas: Mameng Rescue (Part 1)
July 17th 2007 12:45
Article extracted from WWF Malaysia
Images extracted from world wild life
“Fishes are wildlife, too,” says Kenneth Kassem, WWF-Malaysia Marine Coordinator.
Unfortunately, many people do not se them as such. Coral reef fishes have been exploited for the aquarium industry, as food and victims of recreational fishing for many generations. Only very recently, with the listing of one coral reef fish, the humphead wrasse, as an endangered species, is the tide turning for fishes to be treated like elephants, orang-utans or tigers.
Humphead Wrasse – the fish
It is called the humphead wrasse because of the hump on its head but it is also called the Napoleon wrasse or the Maori wrasse because of where they are found: in the coral reefs of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines and as far south as Australia. In Malaysia and the Philippines, it is called mameng. Fortunately, there is only one scientific name for this fish; that is, Cheilinus undalatus, the name given by a Mr. Rupell in 1835 (www.fishbase.org)
The humphead wrasse is one the largest coral reef fishes. It can grow up to 230 cm long, weigh up to 190kg (whoa… it can actually grow more than twice as heavy as me!), and live for 32 years. It matures at about 50 cm and changes sex from female to male at about 60cm. It lives on shallow coral reefs, from 1m to 60m deep. It is important to fisheries, particularly for the Live Reef Food Fish Trade. Juvenile humphead wrasse, plastered-sized, fetch a very high price in restaurants. In Hong Kong, it costs more than USD 100 for just 1 kg of this fish to be cooked and served! It is thus no surprise that fishermen and middlemen go after this fish to see to Hong Kong.
The humphead wrasse is so in-demand for celebratory dinners that they have been over-exploited throughout its range in the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas. In 2004, the humphead wrasse was listed as in endangered species, the trade of humphead wrasse is regulated. A quota for international trade is set by the exporting country. This quota is based on the number of the individuals on coral reefs, to the natural, wild stocks of the fish. In addition, an export permit is issued by the managing authority of the country and corresponding import permit is granted by the receiving country.
At present, there are only a handful of countries exporting humphead wrasse. The Philippines used to export live reef fishes but it has since banned all export of live reef fishes listed under CITIES. Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Maldives export humphead wrasse mainly to Hong Kong. Most exports are by airfreight, as export by sea transfer is not encouraged by managing authorities due to the difficulty of monitoring the amount being traded.
Stay Tuned! Part two of the article will be up soon!
Images extracted from world wild life
“Fishes are wildlife, too,” says Kenneth Kassem, WWF-Malaysia Marine Coordinator.
Unfortunately, many people do not se them as such. Coral reef fishes have been exploited for the aquarium industry, as food and victims of recreational fishing for many generations. Only very recently, with the listing of one coral reef fish, the humphead wrasse, as an endangered species, is the tide turning for fishes to be treated like elephants, orang-utans or tigers.
Humphead Wrasse – the fish
It is called the humphead wrasse because of the hump on its head but it is also called the Napoleon wrasse or the Maori wrasse because of where they are found: in the coral reefs of Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines and as far south as Australia. In Malaysia and the Philippines, it is called mameng. Fortunately, there is only one scientific name for this fish; that is, Cheilinus undalatus, the name given by a Mr. Rupell in 1835 (www.fishbase.org)
The humphead wrasse is one the largest coral reef fishes. It can grow up to 230 cm long, weigh up to 190kg (whoa… it can actually grow more than twice as heavy as me!), and live for 32 years. It matures at about 50 cm and changes sex from female to male at about 60cm. It lives on shallow coral reefs, from 1m to 60m deep. It is important to fisheries, particularly for the Live Reef Food Fish Trade. Juvenile humphead wrasse, plastered-sized, fetch a very high price in restaurants. In Hong Kong, it costs more than USD 100 for just 1 kg of this fish to be cooked and served! It is thus no surprise that fishermen and middlemen go after this fish to see to Hong Kong.
The humphead wrasse is so in-demand for celebratory dinners that they have been over-exploited throughout its range in the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas. In 2004, the humphead wrasse was listed as in endangered species, the trade of humphead wrasse is regulated. A quota for international trade is set by the exporting country. This quota is based on the number of the individuals on coral reefs, to the natural, wild stocks of the fish. In addition, an export permit is issued by the managing authority of the country and corresponding import permit is granted by the receiving country.
At present, there are only a handful of countries exporting humphead wrasse. The Philippines used to export live reef fishes but it has since banned all export of live reef fishes listed under CITIES. Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and the Maldives export humphead wrasse mainly to Hong Kong. Most exports are by airfreight, as export by sea transfer is not encouraged by managing authorities due to the difficulty of monitoring the amount being traded.
Stay Tuned! Part two of the article will be up soon!
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Comment by Miss Nomer
there is a very very large Coral Trout (which is not anywhere as big as your girl) living in the Aquarium in Darling Hbr thanks to a wonderful man...any way they(group of Ad guys and clients), were out for dinner she was going to cost $750 to eat..he paid $1500 to save her and called the Aquarium and now she swims there..out of her environment.but beautiful and alive...and asimilated.. X
Comment by katyzzz
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Why must MAN seek such culinary delights at such exorbitant prices at the expense of a species.
Probably, as 'thinks too much' suggests it would be better to be vegetarian, that was a great little story she told us.
That fish, Jessicca, is huge and what a picture.
Yes, we should be as mindful of protecting our threatened fish as we are animals.
Good post.
katyzzz
Comment by Jessicca
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Malaysia Found
I am glad that you shared the story, although I am still not a vegetarian (sometimes I do for 40 days, or every Friday in religious practises), but I do try not to eat meat if I can... though I am still eating fish once a while.
Thank you so much for sharing the story. It is touching, though many people can do that. Bless that person!
Hi katyzzz,
Yes it is very sad that there are still people out there that pays so much just to seek such culinary delights. They can do better by paying that same amount to do something more meaningful, but then, how many out there does have such a big heart?
Most of them is just "Me, me, all about me. What I want, what I can spend with MY money."
But do continue to spread the good word about endangered species. We can always enjoy good food, it's all about taste and how you cook it, not what you cook it.
Have a blessed day
Jessicca
Comment by Lara M
Love Speaks
Comment by Jessicca
Health 2 Know
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Malaysia Found
Great to know that you have such great opportunity to dive in the great seas.
Glad that you liked the post. Part two will come soon, so stay tuned!
Have a blessed day
Jessicca
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
THat's got to be one amazing experience to have when you are mature? *chuckle*
Jessica I really enjoyed this post and this 'little' creature is absolutely gorgeous. OMG that is the face that only a mother could love and yet I find it wonderfully beautiful... could it be one of Mick Jaggers ancestors? *lol* Just beautiful...
I am so relieved toknow that the government is on it with standards to save extinction, still I don't think I'd be responsible for the death of one, for my evening meal.
Lilla ...
PS have to comment now, as my firewall won't let me log in to leave a 10-point vote without commenting and posts like this deserve more than one point ... that's going to take up so much time...ho hum