Issue 36 - April 2018

Pass on Parrotfish to Save Caribbean Reefs

Parrotfish are severely overfished throughout the Caribbean and it’s vital to coral reef health that we leave parrotfish on the reef. Recently, social media has aided the spread of awareness to pass on eating or fishing parrotfish. Let’s pay attention! As consumers, we can help keep parrotfish on the reef.

AUTHOR | Dr. Chelsea Harms-Tuohy, Isla Mar Research Expeditions, Rincón Puerto Rico

dead parrot fish

Close your eyes and envision an underwater scene of a pristine coral reef in the Caribbean. You probably see huge elkhorn corals with their orange antler-like branches stretching up towards the sun, not quite breaking the water’s surface. Back down below, swimming around the corals, are the schools of deeply-hued blue tangs eloquently moving in unison. Maybe a grouper sneaks out from under the coral’s base, but returns to his hiding place as you approach. A gentle nurse shark glides by in the distance. A school of yellowtail snapper bask in the sun’s rays as they shoal over the reef. But there is one fish in particular that really catches your eye – the parrotfish – as it hurriedly swims past you flashing its bright colors, similar to that of the bird. You watch as it approaches a coral and takes a nose dive, mouth parted to scrape off the algae using its fused-tooth beak. It takes several more mouthfuls before swimming away, leaving a little trail of white dust accumulating as sand on the bottom. Intrigued by the parrotfish’s vegetarian diet, you start to notice the effect they have on the corals – that is, they all seem vibrant and full of life. The algae have not overgrown their delicate calcium carbonate structure. Zooming out, you observe several parrotfish happily munching away on their “greens”.

In fact, parrotfish spend up to 90% of their day eating algae and crunching on coral. A new study of parrotfish teeth found that those scraping beaks produce about 530 tons of pressure per square inch, which is like 80 African elephants compressed to that tiny space¹. New research from Hawaii compares parrotfish to farmers, observing that they partake in rotational grazing by revisiting algal sites on the reef. When they bite the algae (and the coral) they create small divots in the coral structure which may promote coral “sprouting” (or, recruitment and settlement) ². Farmers of the ocean, indeed! In the Caribbean, large parrotfish like the rainbow parrotfish (Scarus guacamaia) and midnight parrotfish (Scarus coelestinus) can scrape a lot of algae, yet we don’t see these large herbivores very often on our reefs. Why is that? Well, unfortunately for coral reefs, we really like to fish and eat parrotfish.

Overfishing in the Caribbean is not a new story. Our insatiable appetite for seafood has crippled some fisheries (like Nassau grouper) and severely threatened top predators (sharks). Some islands fish for parrotfish because other preferred fish, like snapper and grouper, are harder to come by. In other words, fishers catch parrotfish because it’s the only sizable fish still remaining on the reef. This happens as a trickle-down effect referred to as “fishing down the food web”. We start out fishing for high protein, good eats like big groupers and once those are gone, we start fishing for the next “big fish”, which is generally much smaller and lower on the food web. So, if we want to keep parrotfish on the reef and off our plates, what’s the solution? And where do we start?

To reach an audience of fishers and consumers, we must create an interest in what parrotfish do for the reef. It’s critical to inform our island communities about the role they play in maintaining coral reef health – which is more than just eating algae. Parrotfish are a food source for bigger fish and they also contribute to those white sandy beaches where you like to sunbathe. That’s right, their poop becomes sand. Remember when you were daydreaming of that pristine reef, with the parrotfish leaving a little trail on its way to the next meal? That poo is composed of digested calcium from the algae and bits of coral, which when excreted becomes a blanket of sand on the reef. That sand gets transported by currents and storms and eventually deposits on the beach where you lounge to sip that delicious piña colada under the setting sun. Magical! Now you’re interested and aware.

Sharing your new interest and spreading the message about the plight of the parrotfish is the next step towards creating awareness. In this modern age of technology – where almost everyone has internet access in their hands – it seems only logical to start with social media. Recently, The Nature Conservancy in the Caribbean and the U.S. Agency for International Development launched a campaign on Facebook to share important facts and interesting tidbits about parrotfish (see the posts on the Conservancy’s Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/CaribbeanTNC>). They created a hashtag #PassOnParrotfish, encouraging other organizations and individuals to spread the news about not catching, selling, buying or eating parrotfish. Besides Facebook, this hashtag is now popping up all over Twitter and Instagram, where users are sharing their own photos and shout-outs to their fellow islanders to “listen up!” and leave parrotfish on the reef. Similar parrotfish campaigns have launched, including local outreach to fishing communities in the Dominican Republic by the Center for the Conservation and Eco-Development of Samaná Bay and its Surroundings (CEBSE) and in Jamaica with Sandals Resorts International. We have awareness and its catching on; parrotfish should be protected. But how?

This is where awareness comes to fruition as real behavioral change. Standing up for parrotfish has resulted in some islands banning their harvest, including the Dominican Republic, Bonaire, Barbuda, Belize and the Turks & Caicos. But other islands may not find this a viable solution. Fisher livelihoods must be considered, and an alternative must be provided before a real change can happen. Luckily, an alternative exists: lionfish. The lionfish (Pterois volitans) is an invasive predatory fish from the Indo-Pacific that has swarmed the Caribbean and seems rather content in its new home. Scientists agree that the lionfish is here to stay. So, grassroots efforts have popped up around the Caribbean to train fishers to hunt for lionfish and provide them the tools to do so. Organizations like Sea Grant and Isla Mar Research Expeditions in Puerto Rico hold training workshops and provide fishers with spearfishing tools to hunt lionfish. The Institute for Socio-Ecological Research (ISER Caribe) works with fishers in the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas to help transition them to hunting lionfish. But when switching to a different fish may not be a solution, there are still options for protecting parrotfish. Some measures could include implementing size restrictions and catch limits for parrotfish. This would at least ensure that smaller parrotfish have a chance to contribute to their population (make babies) and that a range of sizes are available on the reef to contribute to those important roles (food source, algae control).

So, as you travel to the Caribbean or if you already call the islands your home, consider the choice you have in the fish you eat. Here’s how you can help parrotfish (remember, no action is too small!). 1) Choose not to eat parrotfish and tell your restaurants why. As a consumer, you hold the power to enact real change by driving a market. Eventually the word will get back to the market owners and fishers. 2) Support organizations working to help fishers find alternatives to parrotfish. Like CEBSE and ISER, these locally run non-profits have the interests of fishers at heart. Donate to their cause. 3) Share the message. Use social media to its fullest, repost and share the #PassOnParrotfish campaign messages with your friends, family, groups and colleagues. You can start by sharing this video from The Nature Conservancy <https://youtu.be/Q4NYJ5f1DVg >. 4) Write to your fisheries management boards & attend public hearings. Share your opinion and let them know you have an interest. You are a stakeholder and your voice does matter. Be part of the solution! Let’s pass on parrotfish to leave them on the reef and off our plates.

REFERENCES | 1. Marcus et al. 2017. Parrotfish teeth: stiff biominerals whose microstructure makes them tough and abrasion-resistant to bite stony corals. ACS Nano. DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.7b05044

2. DOI: 10.3354/meps12258 Article: http://www.futurity.org/parrotfishes-farm-algae-1544262/

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Running community building projects in 174 countries
Engaging student ambassadors in over 50 universities
Forming strategic alliances and partnerships with over 200 professional organizations
Publishing over 400 authors, photographers and researchers
Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content and a compelling conservation message.

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This piece was edited and posted onto SEVENSEAS Media by: Bharamee Thamrongmas.

Feature Destination

SEVENSEAS Magazine: April 2018 – Issue 36

SEVENSEAS Magazine April 2018 cover

1. Letter from the Editor: Youth say we failed them. Time to listen.

Earth Day is around the corner and right now we are leading humanity midway through the Anthropocene. The future lays in the hands of those being ignored.

2. Pass on Parrotfish to Save Caribbean Reefs

Parrotfish are severely overfished throughout the Caribbean and it’s vital to coral reef health that we leave parrotfish on the reef.

3. FOREST SPIRITS: Encounters with Ghosts in the Great Bear Rainforest

To the Gitga’at First Nation they are known as Moksgm’ol, the Ghost Bear. These are a subspecies of American black bear, which have white fur when they carry a double-recessive gene unique to their subspecies.

4. Check out new arrivals in the SEVENSEAS Media store

We just opened up our first e-commerce site! Best part is 100% of the proceeds to go SEVENSEAS Media. BEACH BLANKETS FOR SUMMER ARE NOW IN STOCK!!!

5. Standing Up with Lizzie Carr and Plastic Patrol.

Life is full of twists and turns that can change your trajectory when you least expect it. Safely settled in the corporate workplace, Lizzie Carr was working her way through the life that she imagined for herself.

6. Wildscreen Exchange April Image: Octopus

Caribbean reef octopus camouflaged in the reef By Carlos Rodríguez V.

7. FEATURE DESTINATION: Karim Iliya in Tonga

The underwater world is a magical place… It is a strange world that very few people spend time in, and yet it is fascinating and full of mysteries.

8. FEATURE DESTINATION: Another Bottle In The Wall

How ingenious use of plastic bottles is helping Tongan school children, humpback whales, small island communities and one fairly normal Aussie guy.

9. FEATURE DESTINATION: Tonga, a Photo Series

Stunning photos from the South Pacific island.

10. FEATURE DESTINATION: PACIFIC HOPE: Helping puppies on remote Nomuka Island

Nomuka is a small tropical Island with about 75 houses, home to around 400 people and a lot of pigs, cats, chickens, horses and ducks, as well as over 200 dogs! There

11. Top tips for reducing your plastic

Start small. Every action we do, every purchase we make (or don’t make) has an impact. Making those impacts positive is as simple as choosing one thing to start with

12. Brings You the Best Blue Destinations

Global Ocean Refuge awards are only given to areas that meet strict standards for ocean protection and health. GLORES takes the work out of finding sustainable ocean sights and lets travelers focus on planning their trip.

13. Finding solutions to the global coral reef crisis: Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs

Over the past three years we have witnessed a dramatic increase in negative press coverage on the precarious state of coral reefs.

14. Jack’s April Photo: Wire Coral Shrimp – Bali, Indonesia

Also known as the Carid shrimps, they are found worldwide in almost every habitat, from sea water to fresh water and can be found all over the reef…

15. Lady Vespucci: The tall ship “Amerigo Vespucci”

Launched in 1931 the Amerigo Vespucci has the proud appearance and the unfading appeal of an historical ship.

16. World Oceans Day 2018

World Oceans Day 2018 is on track to be the biggest yet with many exciting celebrations already planned on and around June 8!

17. Connect with the Global Marine Community.

In a nutshell, the Global Marine Community is a free interactive resource that gives you access to a weekly email detailing a round-up of events and opportunities in ocean conservation.

18. Trash Talk with Michael Crawford-Hick in Philippines

…the whole surface of the river bank to river bank and as far as they eye could see, was at least a layer of plastic…

19. Rising Tide Conference at AltaSea

A crowd of 125 innovators, entrepreneurs, environmental activists and marine biologist turned out for the first ever Rising Tide Conference at AltaSea.

20. Interested in advertising, contributing an article, or becoming a donor?

35 Issues, readership in 174 countries, over 16,000 subscribers, 20,000 monthly visitors…and growing.

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Conservation Photography

Jack’s April Photo: Wire Coral Shrimp – Bali, Indonesia

Wire Coral Shrimp – Photo taken in Bali, Indonesia

Also known as the Carid shrimps, they are found worldwide in almost every habitat, from sea water to fresh water and can be found all over the reef. They are generally respected by other creatures, often sharing burrows and holes and working as housekeepers. They will wave their antennae around to attract customers, they then proceed to clean outside and inside the creatures mouths, gills etc,.

See more of Jack’s underwater photography on Instagram.

Running community building projects in 174 countries
Engaging student ambassadors in over 50 universities
Forming strategic alliances and partnerships with over 200 professional organizations
Publishing over 400 authors, photographers and researchers
Inspiring and educating our readers through rich imagery, engaging content and a compelling conservation message.

We love the work we do, and we hope you love the content we share. A donation in support of SEVENSEAS Media will help us carry our mission forward.

Find the latest articles on SEVENSEAS Media here.

Want to get in touch with questions or a submission? Contact us here.

This piece was edited and posted onto SEVENSEAS Media by: Bharamee Thamrongmas.

Health & Sustainable Living

Youth say we failed them. Time to listen.

There is a deafening debate surrounding the recent youth-led March for Our Lives in Washington, DC and across the United States. Many are proudly calling it the largest youth movement since the Vietnam War while others without surprise are saying the students themselves should do more to combat gun violence, not elected leadership. But this youth movement does not end at gun reform. Millions are realizing the cries from our future go unheard while the truth is swept under a rug. Earth Day is around the corner and every year around this time I shake my head. I wonder what are we leaving to clean up after we are gone. Right now we are leading humanity midway through the Anthropocene.

Has an aging generation failed that one of the future?

A quote that stuck with me from the recent March for Our Lives protest was, “When you strip away all of the partisan bullsh-t, the simple fact is kids are dying at school and they’d rather not. They are asking for help. From adults. That’s it.” I’m not here to discuss my opinions on the NRA or Washington’s inaction on gun reform. Sentiments surrounding gun violence in the United States are just about everywhere you turn. I am here to address an even bigger picture, a message I have seen repeated over and over from protest signs, student essays, to rants in memes. Much of youth today feels that the generations before have failed them- and their cries for help are being ignored.

Anyone who can hold a phone has access to limitless information at their fingertips and has quickly learned not to rely only on the rational of parents, teachers, or elected officials. This is the very reason why schools have cut long division and forced memorization and replaced it with critical thinking. As good or bad as you think that may be, certain facts (and opinions) are no longer hidden. Gun control, access and cost to education, healthcare, gender equality, and environmental protection are all issues I see fought for regularly. So where do we go from here? We can continue to ignore a maturing population and vision- that will already outnumber baby boomers at the polls in the 2020 election. Or do we back them because it seems today’s youth, the generation with the most to loose, which includes humanity’s future, is the most concerned.

We failed on more than just gun violence.

Undeniably advancement of the human collective over the last few generations spiked on an exponential curve, but at a cost. The planet is conquered. Forests razed. Natural resources depleted. Oceans emptied and poisoned. Few even realize we are going through the Anthropocene, the 6th major extinction comparable to the one that wiped out the dinosaurs. This extinction is all man made.

But there is no turning back. We will always need to mine for steel, we will always need to build bigger and stronger and that is the direction we need to go in. But we need to do it confidently knowing we are protecting the future, not just today.

Everyone hates to admit we were tricked to believe it is okay to consume and use at the levels we do. And we are all so removed and so afraid of the truth, that we believe whatever brands fed us that lie. I used to think society would wake up when it would witness a cataclysmic event that shakes the core of our being. I just never realized that event had been happening since before I was born and so few people stopped to notice.

There are countless models out there. And even if your neighbor does not believe in climate change, they know there is a finite amount of natural resources left, there are dwindling fishing stocks in an ever poisoned sea, they know plastic waste Does Not Go Away. What they don’t realize is they probably don’t deserve the environmental cost of eating that steak before them.

Remember the saying, “leave the world better than you found it.” Will YOU? It is the responsibility of every human to come to terms with our place in the world, that our actions are part of something bigger than our day-to-day lives, and we need to change the way we operate as a society, if not from the top down than by the bottom up. Every action from turning on a faucet to buying groceries has a ripple effect that changes the course and ultimately determines the fate of tomorrow.

Have faith in the next generation, and we need to help them

I have so much faith in Millennials and the maturing Generation Z (defined as people born from the mid-1990s to the early 2000s). Simple access to information has leveled the playing field in so many ways when it comes to views on equality, justice, and vision for the future. Yes anyone over the age of 35 rolls their eyes when they look in disapproval at lazy the youngsters of today but so has every generation before them. Few teenagers adore getting out of bed early and doing chores and likely neither did you at the same age.

The buying power and social consciousness of this emerging generation is a force to be reckoned with. I believe they will continue to see through much of the short-sightedness of the past. I hope they will have enough time to clean up and save what is left from what will be handed to them. They need the support to build up from where we have failed.

Here at SEVENSEAS Media, we do everything we can to educate and inspire nature lovers, professionals, and students of today and tomorrow. We love the work we do and we hope you love and share our message. This Earth Day, listen to someone young and do something to help them launch their dreams into a sustainable tomorrow.

Maybe youth isn’t wasted on the young after all, it is the only hope the future.

Portrait of Giacomo Abrusci