Humphead Wrasse

[jhemdal1]

Here is an image of a humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus. Definately not reef-safe as it can reach 2.32 meters in length. It is also considered as endangered by the IUCN (due to over-fishing for food). Still, I came across this one years ago before they were listed - $24.99

Jay

 

[Anonymous]

Great picture Jay. We just received a donation of this wrasse about the size of your picture, and I was having a hard time IDing it. I had no idea it was red listed. The adults are quite beautiful.

 

[jhemdal1]

They are also CITES appendix II....

Jay

 

[clarionreef]

Its CITES and Red listing has had no effect on the real threat to it in Hong Kong and surrounding environs.
The humphead wrasse is one of the most pursued and pressured fish in the world for the largely untouchable live food fish trade.
And as the seahorse ban had no effect in curtailing the seahorse trade [ except the tiny and token aquarium trade and the poor village that anchored Project Seahorse... then abandoned] the CITES/red listing of the humphead only affects the miniscule number of people who care about it enough to care for one in captivity....outside of Asia.
These people can fit in a Dennys restaurant front room....w/ Matt and Jay seated up front.
The CITES/red list at least is a first step...to nowhere ...as HK has few if any rules where fishery intelligence, mangagement or enforcement is concerned..
Steve
w/ friends in HK ie. the Star Wars bar of commerce for the planet