CTSA# 140, Farming Soft Corals for the Marine Aquarium Trade

CTSA #140

Farming Soft Corals for the Marine Aquarium Trade

Simon Ellis

Opening Paragraph:
Total world retail value of the aquarium industry in 1995 was estimated at between 4 and 15 billion $U.S. with plant and animal sales alone estimated at 900 million $U.S. The United States, Japan and the member states of the European Union are currently the world’s largest importers and consumers of aquarium livestock. It is estimated that there are 10-20 million aquarium enthusiasts in the United States alone. Marine species make up only 9% of the volume of the aquarium pet trade but due to their high value represent 20% of livestock revenues. The keeping of marine aquaria, especially the so-called “reef tanks” which contain live corals, is a rapidly growing sector of the aquarium industry. This expansion is primarily attributed to recent advances in technology that now allow corals and other marine invertebrates to thrive in home aquariums.

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