The aquarium hobby: can sinners become saints in freshwater fish conservation?

Abstract

The aquarium hobby is popular worldwide, but it has positives and negatives for freshwater fish conservation. The most damaging impacts of the aquarium trade on ecosystems are overharvesting and invasive species. Consequently, many conservationists and academics have the perception that aquarium hobbyists are generally harmful to species conservation. Without overlooking these major drawbacks of the aquarium hobby, we aim to establish common ground between hobbyists and conservationists by correcting some misconceptions and showing the benefits of serious aquarium hobbyists in the conservation of freshwater fishes and their habitats. Our overview illustrates that the aquarium hobby is not insensitive to the pernicious effects of this enduring hobby on natural systems and that serious aquarists and their associations can directly assist and fund scientific research, increase conservation awareness among the general public and even participate in ex situ and in situ conservation programmes for native fish species at national or international levels. Whilst the relationship between conservationists and the aquarium hobby has often been antagonistic in recent years, ultimately most biologists and aquarists share a love of the species they study or maintain, and this common interest could be the basis for a more positive and productive relationship.

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“…The domestic ornamental fish producers would easily benefit from the selective breeding on livebearer market. Maceda-Veiga et al (2014) emphasized that demand of aquarium keepers force domestic producers to produce fish with new or more extreme shapes and colours. Moreover, producing ornamental fish with the characteristics demanded by the potential market is a good opportunity for local and small-scale producers to compete with the domination of imported products on the ornamental fish market.…”

The global trade in crayfish as pets

“…Since its discovery, it has attracted the interest of several labs, and may become a model organism for decapod crustaceans (Vogt, 2008(Vogt, , 2011, much as zebrafish (Danio rario) became a model laboratory organism for vertebrates (Grunwald & Eisen, 2002), another example of a common Table 2. Crayfish species reported in the pet trade of only one country pet being adopted for laboratory research (Maceda-Veiga et al, 2014). Similarly, the new Cherax species, all from the island of New Guinea, are more than 10 cm long and charismatic.…”

“…Four species are probably popular pets because of their attractive appearance. Hobbyists strongly prefer brightly colored fish (Maceda-Veiga et al, 2014), and there is no reason to expect the same would not hold true for crayfish. Cherax peknyi has a striking natural colour pattern (Lukhaup & Herbert, 2008).…”

Small size today, aquarium dumping tomorrow: sales of juvenile non-native large fish as an important threat in Brazil

“…Fishkeeping is increasing in popularity, but hobbyists are poorly informed or reckless about environmentally friendly practices (Duggan et al, 2006;Gertzen et al, 2008;Holmberg et al, 2015;Maceda-Veiga et al, 2016). For example, excessive growth and unexpected aggressive behavior of fishes may lead to environmental problems, i.e, aquarium dumping (Duggan et al, 2006;Gertzen et al, 2008).…”

“…For example, excessive growth and unexpected aggressive behavior of fishes may lead to environmental problems, i.e, aquarium dumping (Duggan et al, 2006;Gertzen et al, 2008). Under these circumstances, many hobbyists are poorly informed about adequate practices (i.e, correct disposal of pets or even sacrifice), and discard unwanted pets into nearby waterways (Duggan et al, 2006;Gertzen et al, 2008;Magalhães, Jacobi, 2013a;Azevedo-Santos et al, 2015;Maceda-Veiga et al, 2016). Pet abandonment has become one of the most challenging issues in biosecurity concerning species invasions (CBD, 2010).…”