Finding Loro: The truth about parrotfish
OVER the past years, social media posts have been circulating about the need to avoid parrotfish, popularly called loro or molmol, in public markets.
These posts have been shared tens of thousands of times with the best of intentions, but there’s more to the discussion than simply banning the capture of these colorful reef residents.
Parrotfish are any of the 90 or so fish species belonging to the wrasse (pronounced rass) family. They’re common sights in tropical coral reefs because of their relatively large sizes (usually six inches to over three feet and shaped like a football), weird swimming behavior (like most wrasses, they use their pectoral or ‘arm’ fins to glide like mammals), and insanely vibrant coloration (get a psychedelic drug and imagine a green fish.
With teeth fused into a parrot-like beak that’s harder than gold, silver or copper, they efficiently scrape the surfaces of coral and rock, crushing whatever they eat into sand, which they poop out. “Parrotfish are one of the many agents of bioerosion in coral reefs. Bioerosion combines physical and chemical erosion, plus natural reef growth. This natural process is important in maintaining the health of coral reefs,” explains Dr. Rene Abesamis, a noted marine scientist.
Divers love them because they’re great photo subjects, especially when they graze. Their constant crunching can also be heard underwater and is a constant reminder that reefs are very much alive and in flux. Fisherfolk like them because they have a tendency to sleep at night in predictable locations, usually cocooned in a protective mucous good enough to hide from most predators. Markets from Cebu to Curacao constantly are stocked with parrotfish.
Parrotfish keep corals healthy
“MOST parrotfish don’t really eat visible algae. They graze on microscopic bacteria which live on reef surfaces, including rocks, corals and even seaweed. Some species also eat live coral, which are converted to sand,” explains Kent Sorgon, an ichthyologist or fish scientist. A large parrotfish like a Bumphead (Bolbometopon muricatum) for example, can transform a ton of live coral into white sand each year.
Without parrotfish, coral reefs will wither and die.
PARROTFISH mostly target cyanobacteria growing on reef surfaces. Many other grazers do a better job at keeping visible algae from choking off coral reefs – like rabbitfish, damselfish and most especially surgeonfish.
A 2015 study by Dr. Angel Alcala and other scientists found no significant correlation between the presence of parrotfish, hard coral cover and algae. It was instead found that more parrotfish were recorded in areas with less hard coral cover.
“A recent review of studies around the globe concluded that there’s almost no empirical support for the idea that protecting parrotfish prevents coral reef decline,” adds Dr. Abesamis. “These notions can distract us from addressing the true drivers of coral reef decline such as siltation, pollution, destructive fishing practices and climate change.”
Banning the capture and sale of parrotfish is an effective conservation tool.
EXPERIENCE has already shown that total fishing bans for selected groups of fish caught in non-selective gear, like a large net left for a few hours around a patch of reef, simply doesn’t work.
“A ban isn’t inclusive for fisherfolk because it’s a solution which caters to either the environment or people, not both. Sustainable solutions should be created in partnership with those who directly rely on marine resources. Fishers should always be considered collaborators for conservation, never enemies,” notes Gela Petines, founder of Batang VIP.
Except for Bumphead Parrotfish, which are classified as vulnerable by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), a total ban on catching parrotfish shouldn’t be a priority management action. “If the objective is to sustain fisheries, then parrotfish must be managed just like how most other reef fish targeted for food are managed,” adds Dr. Abesamis.
All sea creatures are equally important
THE solution to save the world’s coral reefs isn’t to ban the capture and sale of a single fish group. It’s to ramp up efforts to conserve the planet’s remaining coral reefs by veering away from expensive and dirty fossil fuels which accelerate human-induced global warming, minimizing coastal development (particularly reclamation), avoiding single use plastics (just imagine how much extra plastic we’re using now for facemasks, faceshields, takeout food... and delivery packages), minimizing coastal pollution and run-off from rivers, better-managing fisheries, shifting to more sustainable alternatives and empowering instead of castigating coastal communities whose lives and livelihoods depend so much on the sea.
When we apply these solutions cohesively, we protect not just our lovable, colorful parrotfish, but the natural systems that can keep tomorrow’s oceans as vibrant and productive as they are now and that’s the secret to saving Loro.
The Tubbataha Reefs in Palawan is a thriving and well-managed marine protected area or MPA. “For the Philippines, the creation of marine reserves like MPAS is one of the few viable options to manage coral reef fisheries,” explains Dr. Rene Abesamis. “MPAS can help boost populations of fish within and outside their boundaries. Scientific evidence suggests that 15 percent to 30 percent of a region’s reefs should be protected to sustain fisheries – but less than 4 percent of Philippine coral reefs are currently protected in marine reserves.”