SIMSBURY, CT – As the blockbuster film Finding Dory continues to make a huge splash at the box office, scientists around the globe are concerned that the regal blue tang that is voiced by Ellen DeGeneres will now be sought after by parents for their children.
Finding Dory is the sequel to the Disney Pixar movie Finding Nemo which created a consumer spike in purchasing clownfish when it was released in 2003. While several species of clownfish have been cultivated in captivity for decades, the regal blue tang supply might not be able to meet consumer expectations.
According to National Geographic researchers, tangs aren’t always sustainably collected from the wild since some collectors break the coral reef to retrieve them. Additionally, researchers note there aren’t any captive-bred alternatives.
The regal blue tang is featured in the new movie, Finding Dory, voiced by Ellen DeGeneres.
For Steve Emmons, owner of Emmons Tropical Fish and Pond Center on Hopmeadow Street in Simsbury, Conn., the demand hasn’t hit yet for tangs in his shop.
“We have been carrying tangs for 40 years,” said Emmons, noting the fish have popular names including “hippo tangs” and “regal tangs.”
Emmons added that tangs are a “fairly common fish but not an easy keeper.”
If tangs are well cared for they can expect to live eight to 10 years, according to Emmons.
“They can grow up to eight to 10 inches so they need more room than other fish,” said Emmons. “Ideally, a minimum 75-gallon tank is what is recommended for its long-term survival.”
Emmons said he and his employees are well versed in the needs of the saltwater and freshwater livestock they sell and have more than 200 display aquariums that include an abundance of imported and domestic fish.
“When parents come in looking for a particular fish, we talk at great length about the needs of the fish and when a much bigger system is required,” said Emmons.
Emmons’ practices are in line with the Pet Leadership Council (PLC), based in Greenwich, Conn., which promotes the health and welfare of aquatic life, environmental stewardship, and responsible fish keeping. The PLC is comprised of pet industry leaders, animal welfare advocates, veterinarians, and academia, uniting everyone who cares for pets behind core principles and a nationwide public education effort.
“With the release of Finding Dory boosting interest in fish keeping, we want people to know that the pet industry is committed to offering fish and marine life that are produced through aquaculture or collected through safe and sustainable practices that include careful attention to the sustainability of both the aquatic life and the marine and aquatic environments where they live,” said PLC Chairman Bob Vetere in a recent press statement.
To help educate consumers about selecting the right fish and appropriate aquarium and proper care instructions, the prevention of invasive species and ongoing conservation efforts, the PLC has launched a new website, www.happyhealthyfish.pet, that includes a fun, interactive game to teach proper fishkeeping.
Disney has also created resources and guidelines to help educate consumers on selecting the right fish that can be found on its website at http://movies.disney.com/finding-dory.
Another important resource included in this effort is Habitattitude, a joint effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and industry partners to prevent the release of invasive species into the wild.
“The pet industry must take every measure to promote responsible pet ownership and avoid fish and aquatic plants being released into the oceans and waterways,” said Vetere. “The PLC is asking member companies to include Habitattitude messaging on product packaging.”
PLC members are also actively supporting the work of Rising Tide Conservation, which has the mission of protecting coral reefs by developing techniques for rearing marine ornamental fish and promoting commercial production to provide alternatives to reef collection, as well as other sustainability projects worldwide.
“Without the support of the pet industry, the advances of Rising Tide in marine aquaculture would not be possible,” said Dr. Judy St. Leger, director of Rising Tide Conservation, in a statement. “We continue to develop new techniques in aquaculture to support fish and coral reefs worldwide.”
