Trading coral reef fishes
CITES CoP20 – Samarkand, Uzbekistan | November 24 – December 5, 2025
From November 24 to December 5, 2025, Samarkand, Uzbekistan will host the 20th Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
This year, discussions will also focus on the trade of marine species, an area where we are actively engaged. In light of this, we are pleased to share our latest insights and contributions.
Stay tuned for updates and outcomes from the conference.
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CITES CoP20 Doc. 92 – Marine Ornamental Fishes (MOF)
Summary
CoP20 Doc. 92 presents the results of the process launched at CoP18 in 2019 on the international trade in marine ornamental fishes (mostly coral reef species not listed in CITES).
• A global technical workshop held in Brisbane (May 2024) brought together over 140 participants from range States, exporting and importing countries, industry, NGOs, and experts.
• The workshop produced a catalogue of marine ornamental fishes in trade and 22 recommendations (AC33 Doc. 44 Rev. 2) to improve monitoring, fill data gaps, and promote good management practices.
• The Animals Committee (AC33) endorsed these recommendations and now proposes that CoP20 adopt a new package of Draft Decisions (Doc. 92, 20.AA–20.EE) and delete Decisions 19.237 and 19.238 (now implemented). The IUCN produced a list of 2,961 species in trade (AC33, Inf.Doc.5).
Recommendations
SUPPORT the draft decisions with the following targeted amendments:
- Direct the Secretariat to circulate the list of at-risk marine ornamental fish (MOF) species via Notification, urging Parties to:
a. consider Appendix III listings for nationally protected species that meet the criteria; and
b. prepare Appendix II proposals for CoP21 for species assessed as regionally vulnerable or endangered.
- In Draft Decisions 20.DD and 20.EE, change the wording from “invite” to “urge” Parties to:
a. record international trade in MOF at the species level, indicating country and site of origin and source (wild vs. captive-bred); and
b. report such data to the Secretariat for inclusion in future reviews.
Why these decisions matter
Over a century of largely wild-caught marine ornamental fish trade — capturing up to 30 million reef fishes per year — combined with the collapse of coral reefs, urgently calls for species-level monitoring of all traded species, listed or not.
Adopting CoP20 Doc. 92, with the proposed amendments, would:
• Establish the first global baseline for the marine ornamental fish trade;
• Close major data gaps and enable transparent, science-based management;
• Support future CITES listings and Non-Detriment Findings (NDFs);
• Advance a precautionary, cost-effective approach already endorsed by the Animals Committee and reinforce CITES’ credibility on emerging marine issues.
Background
• Massive but opaque trade: 15–30 million reef fish traded annually, mostly wild-caught, with high mortality rates.
• Reefs collapsing: Coral reefs host one-third of marine life and support 600 million people; over 99 % may vanish if warming exceeds +2 °C (IPCC 2018, Tipping Point 2025).
• Major data gaps: No reporting from key regions (China, Latin America, Africa).
• Feasible solutions: Proven systems (TRACES, LEMIS) show species-level traceability is practical and scalable.
• Minimal impact on the Secretariat: These measures build on existing mechanisms and were fully endorsed by the Animals Committee.
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“You cannot actually describe a coral reef; you have to have experienced it to fully appreciate it.”
— Ernst Haeckel, 1874
As early as 1874, Ernst Haeckel described the beauty of coral reefs as one of the marvels of the world. No aquarium can truly capture the awe and complexity of a natural coral reef.
Given the significant threats facing coral reefs today, it is essential to closely monitor the trade of their inhabitants. Our research is driven by questions such as:
- How many fishes are collected from coral reefs worldwide?
- Which species are affected?
- Where exactly does this occur?
- And most importantly, are these species threatened by the trade?
These are just a few of the questions guiding our work.
INTRODUCTION
The trade in marine ornamental fishes is almost a century old but has never been properly monitored. It is valued at several billion dollars a year. [1] [2]
Almost all coral reef fishes kept in aquariums do not come from a breeding facility, but directly from the wild, a coral reef. Of the approximately 2,300 species that are available in trade, only about 1 percent breed in commercial numbers in captivity. For about 340 species, the breeding success rate is still at the research stage. [3]
Due to capture, handling, and transport methods, up to 80 percent of coral reef fishes can die before they reach an aquarium.[4][5][6] Those that do arrive often do not live for very long, which is why an estimated 30 million [2] – possibly as many as 150 million [7] – are traded worldwide every year.
Through our research, we aim to shed light on this trade and determine whether it poses a threat to certain species. [8] We strongly advocate for closer monitoring of this trade. Existing systems such as trade databases could play a key role. In Europe, the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) monitors the trade of live animals to the EU. And in the United States of America, a similar database, the Law Enforcement Management Information System (LEMIS) serves this purpose. These tools could be adapted to monitor the trade of marine ornamental fishes to the two of the largest global markets.
According to the IPCC Climate Report (2018), by 2100, with global warming of 1.5°C could cause a 70-90% decline, while warming of 2° C would result in the loss of virtually all (> 99 %) coral reefs. [9]
A 2022 study confirmed these devastating findings. [10] For example, Switzerland – my home country – has already exceeded the 2°C threshold, and globally 2024 was the first full year above 1.5°C relative to pre-industrial temperatures. [10]
According to the Global Tipping Points Report 2025, tropical coral reefs have already crossed their tipping point and are entering a state of irreversible decline. This means the fishes they support will inevitably face a drastically altered future — either being removed from the wild and traded, or facing collapse alongside their habitat.
