During a recent dive and snorkeling trip to Hawaii’s Gold Coast (the west side of the Island of Hawaii) we noticed fewer yellow tangs than we had in the past. Every time we go there seem to be less. One of the dive guides explained that the island is one of the few places that they can be found in sufficient numbers to ‘harvest’ for the aquarium trade.
The Gold Coast received it’s name because people flying in decades ago would see a shimmering gold coast. The huge schools of yellow tang seemed to cover the coastal reef. Now, it’s a lucky day if you see a few juvenile yellow tangs. You’ll see some adults but there are no more huge schools coloring the coast gold.
As you watch this video, notice that there is one yellow tang being cleaned by one Hawaiian cleaner wrasse. Fewer tangs mean less food for the cleaner wrasse, and thus fewer wrasse. Turtles and other fish also rely on the cleaner wrasse for their health care (see photo below). The whole reef is affected by the diminished numbers of these two species of fish.
For every one fish that makes it into an aquarium alive, many have had to die in the harvesting and shipping process. The reef continues to suffer and the balance of this coral reef is adversely affected. If you’re even thinking about putting a yellow tang in an aquarium, I ask that you think again and resist the temptation.
