Proceedings of the International Cyanide Detection Testing Workshop

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The International Cyanide Detection Testing Workshop (February 6-8, 2008, in Orlando,
Florida) brought together participants from Indonesia, the Philippines, the United States,
and Vietnam, with representatives from fi sheries and law enforcement agencies, forensic
laboratories, CITES Parties, non-governmental organizations, industry, and academia. The
primary objective of the workshop was to review the state of testing methods for cyanide
and identify simple, cost-effective, rapid, and internationally accepted tests to detect cyanide
or its metabolites in reef fi shes at different points along the supply chain, including collection
sites, export facilities, and ports of import. The workshop was organized by the United States
(NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program) with logistical support provided by SeaWeb,
Kingfi sher Foundation, and the International Marinelife Alliance (IMA).
The workshop opened with a series of presentations on the extent of trade in live reef food
fi shes (LRFF) and marine aquarium fi shes (MAF), patterns of cyanide use in these fi sheries,
and the impacts of cyanide on target and non-target species and coral reef ecosystems. A
discussion followed on possible conservation, management, and enforcement strategies that
have been implemented or are under consideration in the major exporting and importing
countries to address the use of cyanide to capture reef fi shes.
The participants noted that cyanide fi shing is a widespread practice that has been reported
in at least 15 countries or island territories. The pervasive use of this poison is driven by the
lucrative growing and largely unregulated international trade in live reef food fi sh and the
marine aquarium industry. The United States is the number-one consumer of MAF, while
most LRFF are destined for Hong Kong and other Chinese markets. Species targeted by
cyanide fi shing include nearly all coral reef fi sh species, but its use appears predominant
among the high-value MAF species such as surgeonfi sh, while LRFF trade frequently targets
groupers and wrasses. Cyanide causes unacceptable levels of mortality of target species during
collection and transport. Cyanide also causes mortality to non-target fi shes and invertebrates
including corals, and is associated with reef degradation as divers break apart coral to extract
stunned fi shes.
Potential methods for cyanide detection were reviewed during the workshop, focusing on their
applicability to marine fi sh testing, including colorimetric methods, enzyme-based biosensors,
cyanide-ion selective electrodes (ISE), and biomarker approaches. The International Marinelife
Alliance (IMA) created six CDT laboratories and tested over 48,000 specimens under contract
to the Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) from 1993 to 2001.
BFAR has continued to conduct cyanide testing using the ISE method on a more limited scale
since 2001. Cyanide testing by the IMA for BFAR, in combination with other initiatives, led to
a sharp reduction in fi sh testing positive for cyanide over the period 1996 to 1999.
However, at present only one Cyanide Detection Testing (CDT) laboratory remains operational
full-time due to funding shortfalls and other issues, and cyanide use has subsequently increased.
Testing done by the Puerto Princesa, Palawan laboratory found that 49% of the fi sh specimens
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