2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Tridacna spp.
abundant (Govan, 1988; Hviding, 1993).
T. crocea was found to be the most abundant Tridacnidae species recorded during biological
surveys in the Marovo Lagoon in the Western Province (Kinch et al., 2006), as well as in
transect surveys conducted in 2004 in the Marapa and Simeruka MPAs in Marau Sound,
Central Province (Ramohia, 2004) and in the Sisili and Taburu community-based MPAS in
Ngella in the Central Province (Ramohia et al., 2005b). However, it was noted that the
recorded densities of 5-24 individuals per hectare observed in the Marau Sound as well as
the densities of 300 and 217 individuals per hectare observed in the Sisili and Taburu MPAs
respectively, were low compared to other similar studies (Ramohia, 2004;
Ramohia et al., 2005b). Ramohia et al. (2005a) recorded mean densities of 33-67 individuals
per ha in the Maravaghi community-based MPA in Ngella in Central Province, which were
also considered low for the species. In a survey of invertebrate species conducted in the
main island group, Ramohia (2006) recorded densities of 15 individuals per hectare.
Threats: Overfishing was considered to be the main threat to T. crocea; however, as a small,
burrowing species, it was considered less prone to overfishing than the other Tridacna
species (Allen et al., 2003; Othman et al., 2010).
T. crocea was reported to be in high demand for aquarium trade due to its desirable
colouring (Wabnitz et al., 2003; Hean and Cacho, 2003; Kinch and Teitelbaum, 2010), with
individuals 2.5-10 cm in size being worth USD 15-105 (Mingoa-Licuanan and Gomez, 2002).
It was also reported to be a commonly used species for sashimi and sushi in Japan (Wells,
1997).
In the Solomon Islands, T. crocea was considered to be the most important Tridacnidae
species used as staple food in local households, and as a consequence, overharvested in
some areas (Hviding, 1993).
Trade: As the Solomon Islands has not yet submitted a CITES annual report, trade figures
are based on data submitted by importers. According to data in the CITES Trade Database,
imports of T. crocea from the Solomon Islands for the years 2000-2010 principally comprised
live specimens including 15 270 wild-sourced, 14 731 captive-bred and 5722 captive-born
live animals (Table 1). Imports of lower numbers of shells were also reported by importers.
All trade was reported as being for commercial purposes. Imports decreased markedly
between 2000-2010, with over 95 per cent of the trade in live specimens and shells combined
occurring in the first half of the period.
Table 1. Direct trade in Tridacna crocea from the Solomon Islands, 2000-2010 (all trade reported by
importers). (No trade was reported in 2007 or 2010.)
Term Source 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2008 2009 Total
live W 1273 5400 3864 9 3754 745 4 221 15270
C 2251 3626 4067 2267 1920 600 14731
F 700 1746 3276 5722
shells W 100 100
C 53 200 253
Source: CITES Trade Database, UNEP-World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Cambridge, UK
Indirect trade in T. crocea originating in the Solomon Islands over the period 2000-2010
comprised 940 live specimens (58 per cent captive-bred; 42 per cent wild-sourced) and
12 shells (all captive-bred) as reported by importers, and 587 live specimens (51 per cent
captive-bred; 28 per cent wild-sourced and 21 per cent captive-born) as reported by reexporters.
All re-exports were reported for commercial purposes, and the majority of trade
was re-exported by the United States. No re-exports of T. crocea originating in the Solomon
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