Clownfish may look cute, but they are one of the more aggressive fish in the sea! Even though they are only 2 to 5 inches long, they will approach scuba divers to “chase” them away from their anemone. If scuba divers are persistent, clownfish have even been known to bite scuba divers! Fortunately their teeth aren’t very sharp. Most small fish stay away from scuba divers so clownfish are brave fish to “chase” away divers, especially since divers are ~ 1000 times the size of a clownfish. Can you imagine chasing and attacking an animal that was over 1000 feet long with only small teeth as your weapon? By the way, the larger clownfish that are the most aggressive are female – talk about girl power!
Why Clownfish Need Our Help
Over 50% of clownfish for sale come from the wild. After Finding Nemo came out, wild clownfish populations decreased by over 75%. Clownfish are caught by commercial divers and they usually use cyanide which temporarily paralyzes the fish making them easier to catch, but in the meantime killing other fish and destroying coral reefs. Source/more info: Finding Nemo Fan? Fun Clownfish Facts
Help Save Clownfish
Clownfish photo courtesy of Marcus, a German award winning photographer
More Clown fish photos
Whale Shark Information
The whale shark is the largest fish in the sea reaching lengths of up to 12 m (40 ft), that's about the size of a bus. You usually feel their presence before you see them, it's a strange feeling to look up and see a 12m fish swimming above you.
Whale sharks have huge mouths, in fact you could fit a Volkswagen beetle in their mouth - gulp! Fortunately their throats are very small and whale sharks feed on plankton and are of no threat to humans. Diving or snorkeling with whale sharks is truly a once in a lifetime experience and I would encourage everybody who has the opportunity to do so. Holbox, Mexico is famous for its opportunity to swim with whale sharks. If you would like to dive with whale sharks, the Galapagos is a good choice during "whale shark season". We saw four in two days!
Whale sharks also have their own sort of finger prints - the spots on their body. Each whale shark has its own unique marking, just like we each have our own unique finger prints. In fact if you can ever are fortunate enough to be up close to a whale shark, you are encouraged to snap a photo and send it to the Whale Shark Project where the data is used in migration studies to gain a better understanding of whale sharks. More Info on whale sharks: Whale Shark Facts
Why Whale Sharks Need Our Help
Whale sharks are hunted for their fins which are used in shark find soup, which is very popular in Asia, especially Hong Kong. Over 100 million sharks are slaughtered every year for their fins.
The photo above is of a whale shark we saw in the Galapagos. The tail should be straight but is damaged - likely because of an accidental run in with a boat motor. Whale sharks are considered to be a threatened species but it is widely agreed that more information is needed before their status can be confirmed.
Whale Shark Conservation
It really is amazing all the actions you can take to save whale sharks, even if you are land locked like I am. Thank you for your work on whale shark conservation!
For information on Hammerhead sharks, Leatherback turtles, Coral reefs
Napoleon fish, sometimes also called Napoleon wrasse or humpback wrasses are comical looking fish with a big hump on their forehead and oversize lips. They can grow up to 2 meters. Despite their large size, they are a friendly fish and will often approach divers and swim along side them. Once the diver leaves the napoleon fish's territory, the napoleon fish will patiently wait for the diver to return, then continue to swim with the diver. I once had the amazing experience of swimming alongside a napoleon fish for 20 minutes in the Red Sea! Who knew fish could be so friendly?
Why Napoleon Fish Need Our Help
Napoleon fish are listed as endangered due to overfishing. They are considered a delicacy in parts of Asia, especially Hong Kong and catch a good price for fishermen. Making things even worse is that they are are frequently caught with cyanide which damages coral reefs and kills other fish. By eating a napoleon fish you will also likely be ingesting cyanide. I'm not a doctor, but that can't be good for either you or the napoleon fish. Don't fret, you can help save the napoleon fish with a few simple steps.
Help Save Napoleon Fish
- Never eat napoleon fish.
- In a restaurant that serves napoleon fish either boycott the restaurant and tell the manager why you are doing so, or second best ask the manager where it came from and whether it was caught using cyanide. In Hong Kong, you can ask to see their possession permit.
- Promote and be aware of the Sustainable Seafood Initiative, and make your choices accordingly
- For further information on how you can help: Humpback Wrasses Awareness Campaign
Thank you for taking action to help save Napoleon Fish!
Photo courtesy of Nemo's Great Uncle.
You may also be interested in: Clown Fish - The Bravest Fish in the Sea?
