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Rescued Wrasse Finds New Home to Fight Trafficking
4 Jun
Summary
- Tandu, a rescued humphead wrasse, now lives at Seattle Aquarium.
- The 'Saving Face' project uses facial markings to track wrasses.
- A new app will crowdsource photos to combat illegal fish trade.
A humphead wrasse named Tandu, recently rescued from illegal trafficking, has been relocated to the Seattle Aquarium's Ocean Pavilion. Tandu's move follows previous stays at facilities in Hong Kong and Singapore. He is now set to be an ambassador for his species and for the "Saving Face" conservation project.
The "Saving Face" project is dedicated to combating the trafficking of humphead wrasse. It utilizes the distinctive facial markings of each wrasse to identify and track them. Conservationists note that Tandu cannot be returned to the wild due to the inability to ascertain his original habitat.
Future efforts for the project include the launch of a community science app. This application will enable users to submit photos and locations of wrasses observed in Asian fish markets and restaurants. These submissions will be cross-referenced with a database of facial markings to help identify fish sold without proper permits, thus supporting authorities in their enforcement efforts.
