Brazilian environmental authorities and H. zebra was categorized as ‘critically endangered’
in 2008 the State of Pará listed H. zebra in the regional list of endangered species as “Vulnerable”
Additional Details (if available)
78% of respondents indicated they believe the Belo Monte Hydropower dam will have a negative impact on its habitat (Fig. 8). In comparison, only 38% indicated they believe fishing will negatively impact the species.
Population Trend
Decreasing
Sub-national Level
Formal sub-national protection in place
Name
Emma Hemmerlé
Scientific Name
Hypancistrus zebra
Common Name(s)
zebra pleco
Type of Use
Extractive (i.e., the entire organism or parts of the organism are removed from its environment)
If extractive, for the target species, is this use
Despite all these regulations and regular seizures of trafficked wildlife by the Brazilian Environmental Protection Agency (IBAMA), and Brazilian Federal Police, H. zebra is con- sistently among the most common fishes trafficked out of Brazil (Charity and Ferreira, 2020) contributing to the illegal global wildlife trade.
Provide Details of resource rights regime where relevant
Trafficking of wild caught H. zebra has been common since the export ban in 2004
Is the use part of a strategy to generate conservation incentives, to finance conservation, or to improve tolerance/stewardship?
No
Is there evidence that the use is affecting the conservation status of the species? HIDE
Yes – use is negatively affecting the status (e.g., population is declining; extraction effort is increasing)
Is there evidence that the use is affecting natural selection?
Unknown/not recorded
Is there evidence that the use is affecting poaching of illegal wildlife trade?
Unknown/not reported
Is there any evidence that this use of the species is having a knock-on effect on the status of non-target species
Unknown/not recorded
Unknown/not recorded
Yes, considered unsustainable
Details of assessment carried out
While field observations revealed a decline in the wild population since 2015, we argue that the decreasing trend in the number of individuals observed is due not only to the local negative impact of Belo Monte dam in some areas, but also to overfishing to fill greater consumer demands for trafficked fish. The additional fishing pressure on an already vulnerable population could be the final stressor that results in the extinction of H. zebra in the wild. Paradoxically, the aquarists’ attempts to save the species by purchasing wild specimens is what might be leading to its extinction in the wild given the current environmental conditions.
Has a valuation of financial flows from this use at the site/national/international level been recorded
Sousa, L., Lucanus, O., Arroyo-Mora, J., & Kalacska, M. (2021). Conservation and trade of the endangered Hypancistrus zebra (Siluriformes, Loricariidae), one of the most trafficked Brazilian fish. Global Ecology And Conservation, 27, e01570. doi: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01570
While field observations revealed a decline in the wild population since 2015, we argue that the decreasing trend in the number of individuals observed is due not only to the local negative impact of Belo Monte dam in some areas, but also to overfishing to fill greater consumer demands for trafficked fish.
Threats/pressures impacting the species at the scale of this record