《TAIPEI TIMES 焦點》 Two fish species to be recognized as protected: bureau

By Sean Lin / Staff writer, with CNA

Two endangered bulbous-head fish species — the humphead wrasse （Cheilinus undultes） and the green humphead parrotfish （Bolbometopon muricatum） — are to be added to the Schedule of Protected Species, under the Wildlife Conservation Act （野生動物保育法）, the Council of Agriculture’s Forestry Bureau said.

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According to the bureau, there are just 20 surviving humphead wrasse today as a result of overfishing.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature （IUCN） has included the fish on its Red List of Endangered Species.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora （CITES） has also added it in its Appendix II, saying that the species may become extinct unless international trading of the species is controlled.

The humphead wrasse can grow up to 2m long and weigh up to 200kg, the bureau said, adding that they have a lifespan of 45 to 50 years.

Once the most prolific species of the Scaridae family, the green humphead parrotfish suffered a fate similar to the humphead wrasse.

The species used to be highly sought-after by divers, the bureau said, adding that they are a common ornamental fish at aquariums.

Only 20 to 30 of their kind can be found in the wild today, it said

Both fishes can only be found off the coast of Kenting （墾丁）, Green Island （綠島） and Lanyu （蘭嶼, also known as Orchid Island）, the bureau said.

The agreement to list the two fishes as protected species was reached in a meeting with marine biologists, who deemed the move absolutely necessary, it said.

The agreement was subsequently passed during the third meeting of the 8th Wildlife Conservation Advisory Committee, the bureau said.

新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES