Why is the Humphead Wrasse classified as Endangered or Vulnerable despite its large size?
Answer
It is a target for the lucrative live reef fish trade in Southeast Asia
Despite its imposing size and vital ecological role in controlling damaging predators like the crown-of-thorns starfish, the Humphead Wrasse faces severe conservation challenges. Its status is listed as Endangered or Vulnerable primarily due to intense fishing pressure. This pressure is driven by its high market value for consumption and its desirability within the live reef fish trade, which is particularly active in Southeast Asia. Poaching activities associated with this trade often employ destructive capture methods, compounding the threat to both the species and the delicate coral ecosystems they inhabit.
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