ARC fellow clarifies attributions

I would like to clarify the statements attributed to me in the article titled “PH center of ‘illegal’ live reef, aquarium fish trade” (Inquirer, 7/12/12).

The title of the article states that the Philippines is the “center” of the “illegal” live reef, aquarium fish trade. With regard to food fish, the data are in fact not conclusive. The Philippines is certainly a highly significant exporter of live reef food fish, but this by no means suggests that the country is the “center” of the trade, or that other countries in the region (e.g., Indonesia, Malaysia) do not face similar challenges. Similarly, the question of “legality” is very vexed since the legal status of the trade in the Philippines is open to a wide range of interpretations, which can also depend on which particular aspect or location of the trade you are talking about.

Some further details:

I did not actually suggest that snappers were a significant part of the trade in Palawan, as is implied in the second paragraph.

I am not aware of juvenile snappers being reared live in captivity in Palawan.

The article states: “‘While fishers who engage in live reef fishing get higher income, enabling them to access basic and economic services, they know that what they are doing is unsustainable,’ Fabinyi said.” What I said during my presentation was: “And so fishermen themselves are often very aware of the issues involved; they recognize that the current patterns of fishing are likely not sustainable, but this recognition is dwarfed by much stronger concerns about aspirations for a better quality of life.” The published academic paper that I handed out only referred to survey data showing that the majority of fishermen in the surveyed area perceived declines in the size and catch of leopard coral grouper, even as the “length” of their fishing trips has increased.

—DR. MICHAEL FABINYI,

research fellow,

ARC Centre of Excellence

for Coral Reef Studies,

James Cook University, Australia,

michael.fabinyi@jcu.edu.au