US looks to ban imports, exports of a tropical fish threatened by aquarium trade

US looks to ban imports, exports of a tropical fish threatened by aquarium trade

By PATRICK WHITTLE

Source: krcgtv

8/16/2023

Credit: AP Photo/Alex Lindbloom

The federal government is looking to ban the importation and exportation of a species of tropical fish that conservation groups have long said is exploited by the pet trade.

The fish is the Banggai cardinalfish, a small striped saltwater fish native to Indonesia.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration listed the species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act in 2016, saying that the main threats to the fish included harvest for ornamental aquariums.