Threats to Bumphead Parrot Fish in Andaman

March 20, 2019

A study has shown that Fishing, coral reef degradation threaten parrotfish in Andaman.

Fact Box: Bumphead parrotfish
Scientific Name: Bolbometopon Muricatum
IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Protection of coral cover along the existing protected marine areas in the Andaman and Nicobar islands is necessary for the conservation of the endangered Bumphead Parrotfish.
Large body size, aggregating behaviour and limited activity at night make Bumphead Parrotfish an easy target for spear-fishers.
Further slow growth and low replacement rates have resulted in population declines across the Indo-Pacific and the Red Sea regions.
Bumphead Parrotfish occurs unevenly, with most sightings from only two islands, and with an apparently very small density.
Freediving spear-fishers exclusively target the aggregations of this fish during the night.
The presence of a protected area, live coral and algal cover, significantly influenced the distribution and abundance of Bumphead Parrot Fish.
Incidental catch by fishers and degradation of coral reef habitats are two potential threats to the species.

The Study calls to ban night fishing for the species and to implement regulations regarding reef fishing.