Why Should You Care?
Cultural Value
Humphead wrasse maintain a significant cultural value in many small island communities. They have long been considered ceremonial fish, reserved for rituals and festivals (CoP13 Prop. 33, 1994). Humpead wrasse can be a food source for fishing communities when sourced sustainably. They also play a notable role in diving tourism and contribute to the income generated in diving. Some divers even assess the quality of a dive area based on the presence of a rare fish like humphead wrasse (Gillett, 2010). Humpheads also support the survival of coral reefs, which generate over 9% of all coastal tourism and generate $36 billion (Sharma Reilly, 2018). Coastal tourism provides the opportunity to raise global awareness about the environment while sustaining 6.5 million jobs, a figure that is projected to grow by more than 3.5% by 2030 (Brumbaugh, Patil, 2017). Along with ecological collapse, the extinction of humphead wrasse would result in a loss of cultural heritage, a sustainable food source, and a hit to the diving tourism economy.
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We Face Dire Consequences
​Humphead Wrasse play an incredibly essential role in their coral reef ecosystem. They are predators to reef destroying species, and subsequently promote species diversity, allowing other coral reef species to flourish. The crown of thorns starfish, an invertebrate that feeds on coral reefs, is a detriment to coral if their populations surge (AIMS, 2012). By keeping these populations at low levels, humphead wrasse keep the coral reef ecosystem healthy and create a diverse habitat for other species (Biological Diversity, 2021).
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How the Loss Of Humpheads Would Effect YOU
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Coral reefs, the humphead wrasse’s habitat, are one of the most threatened ecosystems. Around 25% of fish depend on healthy coral reefs for survival, and over half a billion people rely on reefs for economic reasons, food, and protection. They provide shoreline protection from 97% of wave strength from storms and act as a habitat for a wide variety of organisms. Estimates predict that we are 300-400 more likely to find breakthrough medicines in coral reefs than in land-based ecosystems.(Sharma Reilly, 2018). If the humphead wrasse went extinct, a surplus of harmful species would invade reefs, and the whole ecosystem would suffer greatly. Reefs have already been devastated by exploding populations of the crown of thorns starfish, a tragedy which would escalate significantly with a loss of humphead wrasse. All organisms within their ecosystem would struggle to survive as a result of the loss and the biodiversity, habitat, and predation.
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