Save the Banggai Cardinalfish

Flying for 25 hours – third world transportation – tropical thunderstorms in a small boat – cyanide treated waters: all part of a days work for Alejandro Vagelli as he embarks on his third exploration and conservation trip for Banggai Cardinalfish research.

The New Jersey State Aquarium’s Science and Conservation Manager and lead biologist in the reproductive habits, ecology and conservation of the Banggai Cardinalfish, Alejandro (Alex) Vagelli valuable insight into the behavior, biogeography and conservation status of the delicate and rare Banggai Cardinalfish each time he makes this voyage.

These threatened fish live in a limited area. They are found in coral reefs and sea grass beds off several South Pacific Islands in the Banggai Archipelago (Eastern Indonesia). It is here, deep in the Banggai region, one of the most bio-diverse and biologically important areas in the world, that Vagelli will tag these fish and study their habits day and night. Alex Vagelli has dedicated years to the study of these elusive fish and been the first biologist who has achieved reproduction in captivity of the Banggai Cardinalfish.

Vagelli developed a technique to have the Banggai Cardinalfish reproduce in captivity and studied its embryology. This species is one of the few that does not go through a larval phase which is very rare. Therefore, it’s important to understand how this reproductive mechanism (direct development) evolved, and its relationship with the lack of planktonic dispersal in Banggai Cardinalfish.

No pleasure cruise, Vagelli must endure a series of plane rides into a remote region, virtually ungoverned by a unified legal body and communicate his needs for basic survival with native people. Vagelli hopes to someday gain the support of the local fisherman and law officials to conserve both the Banggai Cardinalfish and their coral reef habitat. Both have been so badly neglected by pollution, dynamite, cyanide fishing and ignorance of the environmental impact it is causing, that their survival is uncertain.

The New Jersey State Aquarium staff worries each time Alex sets off on his missions. The weather in the region is severe and unpredictable, the political landscape is threatening and there is no universal governing body that can protect him if an emergency arises. Communicating with the native tribes and fisherman can be especially challenging. Vagelli fears that recent current events may have an impact on his ease to travel through this remote part of the world and conduct his research effectively without conflict.

On this voyage, Vagelli will meet up with a 69 foot dive boat that will become his home for a month as he closely monitors the population status and the reproduction of the Banggai Cardinalfish using a theory that revolves around the lunar cycles. He will be using a sophisticated latex tagging system and a series of dives to compile his research.

The expedition will be funded by a number of grants from the American Zoo and Aquarium Association Conservation and Endowment Fund.

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Author: Press Release