The Banggai cardinalfish is popular in the aquarium trade. Significant numbers are reported to be captured in the wild and it is now considered an endangered species. The detrimental impact of humans on its environment and certain fatal diseases threaten this species' numbers significantly. An investigation was undertaken to the Banggai archipelago in Sulawesi, Indonesia to determine the extent of this trade.

Investigation conclusion: The field investigation revealed that the scale of trade is likely to push the species to extinction in a matter of years. Attempts to strengthen international law and a media exposé by the investigator have so far not yielded results.

PUBLISHED ARTICLE:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/wildlife-banggai-cardinalfish-trade-cites-protections