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In situ conservation powered by Public Aquaria

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11 July 2023

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13 July 2023

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Abstract
The European Union of Aquarium Curators (EUAC) includes 150 members and is an important association for the European public aquarium community. Since 2004, over one quarter of a million euros were awarded by the EUAC Conservation Fund to approximately 50 projects, which spanned across the globe. While projects varied greatly in content and scope, several achieved a significant impact in local populations and/or their focus species. This paper reports on results achieved by these conservation efforts and what improvements can be made, to ensure that the funding is indeed invested in conservation efforts per se. Perhaps the most valid conclusion to be drawn from the list of projects covered in this work is the fact that, regardless of the outcome, as far as preservation of the species are concerned, local communities were actively engaged in a subject that would, otherwise, remain unknown to them. Additionally, these EUAC funded projects highlight how public aquarium activities reach far beyond the acrylic panels surrounding the tanks and indeed the walls of the institution, as they spread around the world and raise awareness within local communities to preserve biodiversity. These results further suggest that a future direction for EUAC, as well as the public aquaria it consists of, could – indeed should - include more strenuous lobbying with legislating bodies, to ensure more adequate – and stronger – in situ conservation measures. In conclusion, with so many doubts being raised by different movements about the existence of aquaria and zoos, it is important that the public is aware that it is their visit to see the ambassadors of different species of animals that supports the funding of many of these pilot projects that aim to preserve species in their natural environment.
Keywords: 
funding
;  
ex situ
;  
education
;  
EAZA
;  
European Association of Zoos and Aquaria
;  
EUAC
;  
European Union of Aquarium Curators
Subject: 
Environmental and Earth Sciences  -   Environmental Science

Background

Public aquaria emerged in the mid nineteenth Century as ‘windows’ into the natural world, at a time when the public had no means to access, or visit, such wonders. One century later, the conservation of wildlife diversity and biological education and research are the central functions – and indeed Mission - of multiple aquaria. Occasionally, these institutions face controversy and an increasing choir of voices that beckon for their immediate closure and release of all captive animals back to the wild. However, this view mostly fails to acknowledge the powerful role that public aquaria play with in situ conservation efforts, while effectively struggling against human activities that continuously invade and destroy natural areas.
For example, (1) seabeds rich in marine biodiversity destroyed by trawling (Thrush and Dayton, 2002; Clark et al., 2016; Carlson et al. 2019), (2) freshwater ecosystems such as rivers, springs, lakes, and rainforests that have been systematically drained, polluted and dammed, leaving them cleared or severely degraded since the 1950s, imperilling thousands of species (Reid and Andrea, 2019; Dudgeon, 2019; Darwall et al., 2009; ); and (3) the sustained threat posed by climate change puts additional pressures on these fragile ecosystems. Likewise, (4) coral reefs have been severely affected by destructive fisheries, pollution, runoff, and unchecked tourism practices. During the last century, climate change also caused (5) stress and a raise in water temperature, resulting in enormous bleaching events all over the globe (refs for these two).
Aquaria support species conservation with species management expertise and public engagement. They not only advocate for a sensitive relationship between nature and society and provide a communication platform for conservation efforts, but also contribute directly to conservation with in and ex situ projects. While all institutions need to comply with modern legislation (e.g. the European Union’s ‘Zoo Directive1’, regulated by Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999), the vast majority have in fact, surpassed its scope (Correia 2020).
The role of public aquaria thus changed in recent years from focussing solely on recreation and the exhibition of exotic wildlife to the current three main roles of education, scientific research and conservation (Packer & Ballantyne 2010; Gusset & Dick 2011). Quoted directly from the European Commission: “The Zoos Directive seeks to promote the protection and conservation of wild animal species by strengthening the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity. In practice, the greatest efforts for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity need to focus on measures in the wild. This is the primary focus of the EU's policy: through the Birds and Habitats Directives, the EU Biodiversity Strategy, the Regulation on Invasive Alien Species and EC wildlife trade regulations implementing CITES, all of which contribute to achieving objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity & other international agreements” (Correia 2020).
However, protecting wild animal species outside their natural habitat is also important for biodiversity conservation. In this context, the EU adopted Council Directive 1999/22/EC of 29 March 1999 on the keeping of wild animals in zoos. The Zoos Directive aims to strengthen the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity. It calls on Member States to adopt measures to licence and inspect zoos, ensuring that institutions respect certain conservation and protection measures, including appropriate accommodation of the animals (op. cit.).
Member States are responsible for applying the provisions of the Zoos Directive and ensuring their necessary enforcement. There is a very limited EU role in implementation as the Directive does not foresee the need for a committee or reporting obligations to the Commission. However, a lot of good practice approaches have been developed to help zoos and public aquaria increase their contribution to biodiversity conservation (op. cit.). Both the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA2) and the North American Association of Zoos and Aquaria (AZA3) have produced multiple manuals of ‘Good Practices’ that are distributed freely amongst their members. Likewise, the ‘Elasmobranch Husbandry Manual’ (Volumes I4 and II5, by Smith et al. 2004 and Smith et al. 2017, respectively) and ‘Advances in Coral Husbandry6’ (Leewis & Janse 2008), are also distributed freely (in electronic format) amongst professionals in the field.

The European Union of Aquarium Curators

It was under this framework that the European Union of Aquarium Curators (EUAC) was created, during a symposium held in Basel Zoo, in May 24-25, 1972. At the time, participating aquarium curators decided to establish EUAC, which would ensure closer contact between aquarium professionals in the future. The main objective of this Union would be to organise regular symposia during which topics and problems of general interest would be discussed. The intention was to meet every year and annual – occasionally biannual - meetings occurred ever since. The number of participants as well as the number of presentations constantly increased and, in 2004, the organisation was financially robust enough to award funding to in situ conservation initiatives promoted by its members.
Such conservation activities can either be done directly by aquaria or via close collaboration with existing in situ conservation projects. Also, direct funding from EUAC, or indirect funding from other sources of in situ conservation activities, can be of great help. Funding can be provided by an individual institution or an association, including dedicated public fundraising initiatives. Every year, EUAC members are invited to submit their proposals by completing an application form.
Project categories include biological/ecological research, veterinary/conservation medicine, animal welfare, captive breeding, re-introduction/re-stocking/translocation, human-wildlife conflict, education/public awareness, training/workshops, community-based/social policy, ecotourism/sustainable development, sustainable use, wardening/law enforcement, and protected areas management. Projects are encouraged to involve local communities and be approved by local authorities. Participants are also required to give details about the study species, its IUCN Red List status, summarising the project and its objectives and itemise a budget. Applicants are required to provide match funding to demonstrate proportional commitment to the project.
Once applications are received, a review panel, appointed specifically for this purpose, reviews all applications, and assigns a score to each. The EUAC Committee then reviews these scores and, depending on current funding budgets awards financial support to one, or more proposals. Recipients of funds are obligated to deliver an oral presentation on their results and also submit a written report of the results achieved by their project.
Hereinafter we present achievements of nearly two decades of funding support by the EUAC (Table 1 and Table 2) and highlight how short-term, targeted funding can initiate conservation and support dedicated teams around the world to develop and implement methods for species survival. Table 1 was done in 2019 and shows 42 projects, while Table 2 includes 7 additional projects.
Table 1. Projects funded by EUAC between 2004 and 2019 (42).
Table 1. Projects funded by EUAC between 2004 and 2019 (42).
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Table 2. Projects funded by EUAC between 2004 and 2020 (49).
Table 2. Projects funded by EUAC between 2004 and 2020 (49).
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Table 2. (cont.). Projects funded by EUAC between 2004 and 2020 (49).
Table 2. (cont.). Projects funded by EUAC between 2004 and 2020 (49).
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Caption: Funding) Initial funding (I); part of bigger Project (P); Follow up (F)? Running) Project still running? (Y/N). Follow-up) Follow-up funding received? (Y/N). Publications) Peer-reviewed publications from Project? (Y/N). Extinction risk) Involvement in protection of endangered species? (Y/N). Obs. 1) Bagnoli station is closed but a new facility opened at Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn in Naples, now a centre for excellence in sea turtle Rescue and Research with much bigger facility and veterinary unit. Annual budget: 20.000€ without personnel plus 100.000€ p.a. for Research Projects (1+1 Life). 2) NGO is still active: https://www.facebook.com/naturetropicaleong/. 3) Project grew into a long series of projects in Afresh, Pacim, and Decagon under the umbrella of ‘Fish Net Greece’. 4) 13 new species (1 Frog, 6 lizards (Echsen), 6 snakes), scientifically described, Building of Rescue Centre together with Zoological Society Frankfurt, region became NP with enlargement, UNESCO World Heritage site, EAZA Conservation Award for Cologne Zoo. 5) EUAC support was more important than the actual money, specifically networking and acknowledgement opportunities; annual budget in 2022 is 2 million euros; SECORE is a prime example of how public aquaria can be a platform for Research and Conservation. 6) A significant ZSL-project with an abundancy of funders but contribution of EUAC money helped with certain questions. 7) NGO is still active: https://www.facebook.com/naturetropicaleong/. 8) Part of Greek Valencia- Project. 9) Yielded a PhD and publication; total project budget was 250 000 €. 10) Yielded a PhD and publications; total project budget was 300 000 €. 11) Received Darwin Scoping grant. 12) EDGE projects are done with foreign students and have limited duration. 13) Project duration 2 years. 14) Led to Red list status of this species and CITES level was raised from WA II to WA I; project focused on Vietnam with separate population unit, genetic screening for species protection and identification, ex situ in Zoo Köln (Vietnamese form) bred to F2 generation; Conservation breeding in Cologne Zoo and Melinh Station for Biodiversity in Vietnam, Monitoring of wild population in Vietnam ongoing. 15) Fish list being compiled together with ZFMK (Zoological Research Museum Alexander König). 16) EDGE projects are done with foreign students and have limited duration. 17) Zoo Leipzig and Universität Chile, built a Station from a container. 18) Led to Red list status of this species and CITES level was raised from WA II to WA I; project focused on Vietnam with separate population unit, genetic screening for species protection and identification, ex situ in Zoo Köln (Vietnamese form) bred to F2 generation. 19) Follow-up from 2010. 20) Part of a fixed termed project. 21) Yielded a book, poster, multiple lectures to locals, and a partnership with the Fisheries Board of São Tomé. 22) Yielded Vietnamese population ex situ breeding up to F2 generation, exchange with European Zoos, extensive new enclosure, positive outcome of the project result as member of staff now works for German Ministry for Conservation. 23) Yielded offspring of genetically tested Siamcrocodiles in Laos, raised for Conservation breeding network / release. 24) Sea turtle Program still running, with construction of new rescue station to begin immediately. 25) Predominantly yielded educational outputs and increased networking; the Portuguese navy finances the project, which also receives support from the municipality. 26) Exhibition; option to continue. 27) 150 people educated in 3 workshops, exhibition and presentation, follow up with sexual reproduction; currently in progress. 28) Search for genetically pure individuals, Ex situ breeding successful, specimen for rescue stations, exchange with Zoos and release to wild, One plan approach and habitat analysis. 29) Contribution to project purpose. 30) Predominantly yielded educational outputs and increased networking; the Portuguese navy finances the project, which also receives support from the municipality. 31) Project will be shifted to Azores/Portugal due to political issues in East Timor after pandemic.
Further communication with project managers yielded results that allowed to compile Table 3.

Action - Projects

Below are more detailed explanations on some of the projects funded thus far, including outcomes and results.
Title of project: Assessing the condition of the noble pen shell (Pinna nobilis Linnaeus, 1758) in the south Adriatic Sea
Project leader: Milena Mičić  EUAC member: Aquarium Pula
Year supported: 2019   Amount supported: 9 000 €
Summary of project: The aim of the project was to assess the state of the population of noble pen shells (Figure 1) in the south Adriatic. Results from the surveyed areas indicated a high level of mortality (up to 100%) and healthy individuals were removed from the site and kept in ex situ conditions. Noble pen shells suffer from a disease in the wild that has wiped out populations in Spanish and Mediterranean waters. The disease and the disappearance of other populations has been what motivated this project which received full support from the Croatian Ministry of Environmental Protection. The pen shells in aquaria were kept in a closed aquarium system with the subsequent induction of spawning. Any knowledge and findings from this project have been used to update information about the biology of the species and how they should be maintained under human care. Aquarium Pula collaborated with universities in Zagreb, Pula and Hungary together with the Croatian veterinarian Institution to further the project. During the project regular media coverages were undertaken to raise public awareness.
Title of project: In search of the last remaining representatives of the only recently described and already Critically Endangered Spotted Softshell Turtle Pelodiscus variegatus in Vietnam
Project leader: Thomas Ziegler   EUAC member: Cologne Zoo
Year supported: 2018    Amount supported: 4 900 €
Summary of project: The softshell turtle (Figure 2) has been described as a new species based on genetic and morphological analyses. The project aimed at investigating whether wild populations of the soft-shell turtle still exist. This was achieved by checking potential freshwater habitats, interviewing local fishermen and by investigating farms and local markets where turtle trade is done. Genetic screening was undertaken on potential individuals at a molecular laboratory, after being inspected if they contained the unique markings on the belly of this species. When a genetically pure specimen was found, it was taken to a local rescue station to set up a conservation breeding programme. Any young were released to their natural habitat and potential surplus was brought to European institutions to extend the conservation breeding programme and to build an insurance colony.
Title of project: Mapping the Mediterranean Pillow Coral (Cladocora caespitosa) habitats in Medulin Bay, Istria, Croatia
Project leader: Milena Mičić  EUAC member: Aquarium Pula
Year supported: 2018      Amount supported: 7 000 €
Summary of project: The aim of the project was to investigate the condition of coral colonies in relation to existing threats caused by different anthropogenic activities (nautical tourism, pollution, and unsustainable fishing). Additionally, it was essential to propose guidelines for sustainable management of the area for authorities to preserve the colonies in Medulin Bay (Figure 3). To highlight the importance of coral protection at local and global level, an outdoor poster exhibition was created and offered - at Aquarium Pula - to the wider audience, to raise awareness. The exhibition showed the degradation of corals and related species due to unsustainable human activities.
Title of project: Coral Husbandry Workshops Maldives
Project leader: Nicole Kube & Pablo Montoto Gasser EUAC member: German Oceanographic Museum & ZooAquarium Madrid, Spain
Year supported: 2017 and 2018   Amount supported: 12 000 € (total)
Summary of project: In the archipelago of Maldives people are depending in their livelihood on coral reefs, as fisheries and tourism is the main income. Declining of coral reefs due to anthropogenic impacts, coral bleaching, and the loss of coral reefs also due to constructional work has made some activity for reef restoration possible. This applies to both hotel and local islands. This project focused on conducting a workshop to train locals (Figure 4) in coral husbandry and restoration techniques to ensure a better outcome of the conducted projects and help getting local people engaged into protection of coral reefs.
Workshops were held with the following topics: knowledge about ecology and biodiversity of coral reefs and threats, abundant coral species and status of corals of the islands, sampling strategy (Figure 5) with a minimum impact on the reef but maximizing the number of collected species, lessons about fragmentation techniques, different attachment methods and best spots to grow. The workshops consisted theoretical lessons and practical work underwater.
The aim of the project was to engage people more into actions to protect their coral reefs at their doorstep. Participants of the workshops have been trained to continue the work independently after the team left.
Title of project: Project Batagur baska
Project leader: Anton Weissenbacher   EUAC member: Vienna Zoo
Year supported: 2019/2017     Amount supported: 5 000 €
Summary of project: The aim of the project was to draw conclusions of migration routes and survival of the northern river terrapin (Batagur baska) in the natural habitat (Figure 6 and Figure 7). In a previous project five males were released and this submission consisted of five more releases into the Sundarbans mangrove forest in Bangladesh. Satellite transmitters were fitted on the five individuals to track them. The combined data of the 10 males from 2018 and 2019 will help to discuss if a sustainable reintroduction is feasible, depending on the survival rate, and will help influence management suggestions for the in situ bred and reared population.
This project constitutes a prime example of the importance of EUAC funding support. Wild populations of the Northern River Terrapin (Batagur baska) have been decimated to such an extent that the species can be considered as ecologically dead. The first breeding success at the Vienna Zoo in 2010 presented an opportunity to call attention to this Critically Endangered species. With combined efforts, the team assembled a breeding population in the terrapin´s natural habitat in Bangladesh. A conservation area was established in Bhawal National Park and started with 84 juveniles in the first years (Weissenbacher et al. 2015).
EUAC’s financial support allowed to maximise the conservation approach when a second breeding facility was established in the historical distribution area, the Sundarbans. The breeding group was split to minimise risk and hatcheries, ponds and breeding beaches were established in the Karamjal conservation centre of the Bangladesh Forest Department. In early 2021, Project Batagur headstarted 406 juveniles in both Bhawal National Park and Karamjal centre and secured the survival of a Critically Endangered species.
Moreover, EUAC funding supported a further project step that permitted the first quantitative and qualitative observation of migration routes of adult terrapins in the brackish river system and coastal areas of Bangladesh. In two successive years, ten males were equipped with satellite transmitters and released in the Sundarbans mangrove forest. First results demonstrated a precarious situation of the terrapin’s survival in its natural habitat and permitted fact-based discussions about sustainable reintroduction and management.
Title of project: Conservation of Achondrostoma occidentale: a freshwater fish endemic to the Western most tip of Europe (2017)
Project leader: Maria de Fátima Santos Gil EUAC member: Aquário Vasco da Gama
Year supported: 2017    Amount supported: 8 800 €
Summary of project: A. occidentale is a small cyprinid endemic to three small river basins (<40 km) located in the westernmost tip of Europe, isolated from its geographically closest congeneric species for more than 7 million years. It inhabits typical Mediterranean-type intermittent rivers, with winter floods and summer droughts of variable intensity. The dry season is particularly threatening for fish, due to major habitat contraction and population fragmentation (and consequent genetic bottlenecks), with exposure to higher competition for the limited space/food and poorer water quality. Other threats include habitat destruction, pollution and spread of the exotic crayfish Procambarus clarkii.
The imminent risk of extinction of A. occidentale after a severe drought prompted the launching of an ex situ Conservation programme in 2007. Captive stocks founded with wild caught adults are maintained at the Aquário Vasco da Gama (AVG) and reproduction occurs under a naturalist approach to prevent natural selection relaxation. Over 8.000 captive bred fish were already released (Figure 8 and Figure 9) in their natural populations for population reinforcement and, consequently, to minimise the risk of extinction in situ. Since this program was pioneer in Portugal, it promptly gathered a high level of attention by the media and local communities, which have been invited to participate in restocking and environmental education actions.
This project was successful at addressing all its original objectives, which were:
  • Assess in situ benefits from the recently conducted restocking actions (monitoring the current density of individuals and compare it with previously gathered baseline data).
  • To support the logistics of a third restocking action.
  • To implement in situ conservation measures, which were conducted with local students, to consolidate the need to have locals as allies in the conservation of the fluvial ecosystem. Without this funding, restocking actions would continue to be mere releases of fish without a formal involvement of the society.
  • Funding allocated to genetic analyses for the prosecution of the captive breeding programme targeting this species, since the quantification of an eventual loss of genetic diversity is essential to maintain or to change the ongoing procedures in the future. This objective was partially met, and DNA analyses are still underway with regards to assess whether current genetic diversity may be considered satisfactory, or not.
Title of project: Safeguarding the Critically Endangered Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) through combined in situ and ex situ conservation measures (2016)
Project leader: Thomas Ziegler EUAC member: Cologne Zoo
Year supported: 2016    Amount supported: 5 000 €
Summary of project: This project was a follow-up to an impressive list of previous projects by the same author, also funded by EUAC:
  • Anthropogenic and environmental-dependent behaviors of the Endangered Crocodile Lizard (Figure 10) in Vietnam with concrete implications for species conservation (2015)
  • Conservation translocation program of Shinisaurus crocodilurus to reinforce the dramatically small wild population in Vietnam (2014)
  • Ecological research and population analysis of the Chinese Crocodile Lizard in Vietnam (2012)
  • Assess the ecology of freshwater fish community in the Menangat-Kenohan Suwi wetlands of Kalimantan Indonesia (2012)
  • Preliminary assessment of the Siamese Crocodile population in Indonesia (2010)
  • Breeding and research programme for rare and endangered amphibian amphibians from Vietnam (2008)
The projects above yielded a publication (Behler et al. 2018) but this following summary is relative to the 2016 project.
The Siamese Crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) is listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN Red List because natural populations in its distribution range have been reduced by 80% over the last decades. Historically, this species was widely distributed in mainland Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam. However, the natural populations in Vietnam have probably been extirpated due to the extremely high hunting pressure. Natural populations in Cambodia, Lao, and Thailand have also become highly fragmented and threatened. Most populations have less than ten individuals and might not be able to survive long into the future.
Recent surveys conducted by the project’s team, near Ban Soc, Bualapha District, Khammouane Province, Lao PRD, identified an unknown, overlooked population of the species which at the same time represented the rediscovery of the Siamese crocodile in Khammouane Province. Similar to populations documented in previous studies, this population contains only few observed individuals. Based on external morphology, respective individuals could be identified as pure Siamese Crocodile. Additional interviews with local people revealed the sighted crocodiles to represent remains of a natural population. However, to ensure that sighted animals are not escaped farm hybrids, molecular testing of noninvasively collected samples from the site is currently underway.
One of the most cost-effective conservation options for the species would be to restock the diminished wild populations throughout its range or even conduct reintroduction in particular cases in suitable habitat where the species has become extinct in combination with habitat and species conservation measures. In Vietnam, the first population was introduced in Cat Tien National Park in the early 2000s. Breeding has been subsequently documented, which demonstrates initial success of the programme. A major challenge for the build-up of restocking/reintroduction efforts is to identify purebred individuals from captive programmes in the range countries. This process was carefully implemented in the introduction programme in Cat Tien National Park through genetic screening of captive individuals using microsatellite markers and mitochondrial genes. However, the remaining captive colonies in Vietnam and Laos have not been monitored closely to confirm purity of Siamese Crocodile individuals held in the facilities.
In addition to the previous two projects coordinated by Professor Thomas Ziegler, this researcher has been involved with numerous other projects in Southeast Asia, many of which receiving funding from EUAC and yielding an impressive collection of publications: Behler et al. (2018), Bernardes et al. (2011), Bernardes et al. (2013), Anon. (2012), Bernardes et al. (2012), Gawor et al. (2012), Gawor et al. (2009), Gawor et al. (2016), Gawor et al. (2012b), Gawor et al. (2011), Geissler et al. (2015), Geissler et al.(2014), Hecht et al. (2013), Hendrix et al. (2009), Hendrix et al. (2008), Hendrix et al. (2007), Hendrix et al. (2008), Le et al. (2015), Le et al. (2014), Lötters et al. (2011), Luu et al. (2014), Luu et al. (2013), Luu et al. (2013b), Nguyen Quang et al. (2008), Nguyen Quang et al. (2009), Nguyen et al. (2012), Nguyen et al. (2016), Nguyen et al.(2013), Nguyen et al. (2014), Nguyen et al. (2012), Ohler et al. (2011), Pham et al. (2014), Pham et al. (2016), Pham et al. (2015), Pham et al. (2016), Pham et al. (2016), Pham et al. (2016), Phung et al. (2013), Rauhaus et al. (2012), Rowley et al. (2016), Scheld et al. (2013), Strauß et al. (2013), Tarkhnishvili et al. (submitted), Ten Hagen et al. (2016), Tran et al. (2010), Tran et al. (2011), Van der Straeten et al. (2007), Wildenhues et al. (2010), Wildenhues et al. (2011), Wildenhues et al. (2012), Ziegler (2010), Ziegler (2009), Ziegler (2011), Ziegler (2007), Ziegler (2008), Ziegler (2008b), Ziegler (2010), Ziegler (2016), Ziegler et al. (2008), Ziegler & Nguyen (2008), Ziegler & Nguyen (2013), Ziegler & Pagel (2008), Ziegler et al. (2016), Ziegler et al. (2015), Ziegler et al. (2014), Ziegler et al. (2008), Ziegler & Vu (2009), Ziegler (2007), Ziegler et al. (2011), Ziegler & Dieckmann (2013), Ziegler & Nguyen (2010), Ziegler & Rauhaus (2015), Ziegler et al. (2013), Ziegler et al. (2015), Ziegler & Thanh (2009).
Title of project: In search of the Red Girl in Madagascar
Project leader: Brian Zimmerman  EUAC member: Zoological Society of London
Year supported: 2016     Amount supported: 9 045€
Summary of project: The expedition had the primary purpose of providing training and support for the Andapa aquaculture facility, which holds a number of highly threatened Malagasy endemic freshwater fish species, including its owner and the team of local people that he employs. Training in water quality analysis, pond design and infrastructure improvements, fish handling and transport and a review of diets and nutrition for each species were provided as requested. The expedition team also returned to the collection site in the Amboaboa River in order to assess changes to the habitat and to collect additional members of the focal species to improve the genetic integrity of the captive population in Andapa (Figure 11).
Key objectives of this project were:
  • To improve the welfare of the collection of over twenty Malagasy freshwater endemic species being managed at the Andapa aquaculture facility.
  • To increase the breeding success of each species being maintained in Andapa after a full review of their environmental triggers for spawning and their ecological requirements.
  • To ensure that robust, genetically healthy populations of each threatened Malagasy species is maintained long term for future restocking programmes.
  • To acquire and secure stable captive populations of those species of threatened Malagasy freshwater fish species that are not currently kept in the Andapa aquaculture facility including sufficient numbers of Paretroplus gymnopreoperculatus.
  • To raise the profile of Madagascar’s unique endemic freshwater fish fauna on a national and international level with particular emphasis on teaching the local community of their value.
  • To provide husbandry training to the Andapa aquaculture facility to help improve breeding success and encourage stable and sufficiently sizeable populations for future generations.
  • To provide training in fish handling and transport to the employees of the Andapa aquaculture facility in order to improve survival during translocation exercises.
  • To provide training in water quality management to the employees of the Andapa aquaculture facility to encourage greater monitoring of key parameters and avoid losses.
  • To hold a workshop with relevant people in Madagascar focused on developing a conservation management plan for species of freshwater fish under threat.
Title of Project: Marine fishes of São Tomé and Príncipe
Project leader: Nuno V. Rodrigues  EUAC member: Flying Sharks
Year supported: 2015     Amount supported: 10 000 €
Summary of Project: São Tomé and Príncipe is an independent African country located in the Gulf of Guinea, crossed by the equator, and approximately 150 nautical miles off the west coast of Africa. It hosts a unique diversity of marine fauna, including endemisms and species of rare beauty, and therefore has been considered a hotspot of marine biodiversity by multiple authors, such as those involved in several studies on the coastal marine fish communities, such as Afonso et al. (1999), California Academy of Sciences (2009), Wirtz et al. (2007), Floeter et al. in 2008 and ultimately by the applicant (N. V. Rodrigues) in March 2014, November 2014, and February 2015. Nevertheless, local marine fauna was still one of the least known in the world and was facing alarming signs of overexploitation at the time of the application (2014), which is still very much the case. More importantly, local authorities have demonstrated their frustration by the lack of information left in-country by recent scientific expeditions. Therefore, there was an urgent need to (1) improve the scientific knowledge on fish communities of São Tomé and Príncipe, (2) increase the environmental awareness towards proper management of local resources and (3), most importantly, improve the knowledge transfer to local authorities and appropriated stakeholders.
The large majority of São Tomé and Príncipe's population depends directly on artisanal fishing. Recent reports demonstrated signs of overexploitation of coastal fishes and alarming collateral impacts of fishing activities, such as declining trend of large sized fish namely sharks, groupers, and snappers, increasing trend of lost fishing gears in the reefs and an increasing occurrence of small sized fish in the market including filefish, boxfish and other supposedly locally non-edible species, until recently. According to the applicants in situ observations and reports from local fishermen, overfishing may be caused by an increased fishing effort, increased fishing capacity of boats and engines, and the increase of destructive fishing practices such as the use of mosquito nets or scuba divers in seine-net fisheries. Therefore, it is not surprising that local authorities have asked for collaboration with increasing the environmental awareness and with increasing the local capacity for implementing proper management of local resources, including the establishment of marine protected areas.
During this project, a poster was made featuring all commercially exploited species (Figure 12), photographed with high resolution by the applicant, as well as the book ‘Coastal Marine Fishes of São Tomé and Príncipe’ (Figure 13), a bilingual (Portuguese and English) 123 pages edition, of which 1200 copies were made. The book launch, held at the Oceanário de Lisboa, welcomed a full room of marine biology enthusiasts, naturalists, and journalists.
Additionally, approximately 100 copies of the poster, and of the book, were offered to Government officials, namely from the Fisheries Board, with whom Flying Sharks (the applicant) signed a protocol for future cooperation. While cooperation did not occur since, multiple lectures were given throughout São Tomé – in schools and dive clubs – alerting for the dangers of overfishing. Local dive clubs were instrumental in getting this message across, as were multiple NGOs that partnered with the project, such as ‘ATM – Associação de Tartarugas Marinhas’, ‘Projecto Tatô’, ‘MARAPA’, and ‘Príncipe Trust’.
Title of project: Integrating freshwater fish into biodiversity conservation in Turkey (2010)
Project leader: Anton Weissenbacher & Brian Zimmerman  EUAC member: Vienna Zoo & Zoological Society of London
Year supported: 2010     Amount supported: 1 522 €
Summary of project: Several species in the genus Aphanius have very small distributions and are seriously threatened. The distribution of these small, maximum 6 cm long fish includes waters around the Mediterranean Sea, on the Arabian Peninsula and in parts of Africa, Turkey, Pakistan and India. Aphanius inhabit extreme habitats. High salt and sulphur concentrations cannot harm them, nor can daily temperature fluctuations of around 20°C. Nevertheless, almost all Aphanius species and their subspecies are threatened; some members of the group are even extinct. The causes of the endangerment include the destruction of habitats (e.g. for hotel buildings on the coast), intensive water abstraction for agriculture and drinking water production, as well as the introduction of non-native fish species. These small, completely economically insignificant fish have no lobby and stand in the way of national interests such as mass tourism and classic economic development measures. Strategies to protect Aphanius have only started a decade ago. Around 20 species and six subspecies of the genus are kept at the Vienna Zoo and are regularly and successfully bred, three of which are already Extinct in the Wild. The offspring was distributed to other zoos and organisations as part of the conservation programmes.
The research project on the Azraq killifish, Aphanius sirhani, has provided many previously unknown results about temperature requirements and egg development of this species. Such data are crucial to take the right measures for long-term conservation in natural habitat restoration projects.
The Vienna Zoo, together with the Zoological Society London, the University of Ankara and Birdlife Turkey, initiated a research project on the conservation status of Aphanius species in Turkey. As part of this project, genetic and morphological studies were conducted in cooperation with the University of Vienna and other institutions, in order to investigate the relationship of selected highly threatened Aphanius populations and species. The results showed that at least one of the populations examined was identified as an independent, previously undescribed species.
Title of Project: Fish Net Greece
Project leader: Brian Zimmerman  EUAC member: Zoological Society of London
Year supported: 2005     Amount supported: 7 715 €
In 2005 the EUAC Conservation Fund contributed funding to support the first ever survey of the entire known and suspected range for the Critically Endangered killifish, Valencia letourneuxi in Western Greece and the Ionian islands (Crivelli 2006). The species was later split into two species (V. letourneuxi and V. robertae), which comprise two of only three species from the family Valenciidae, confined entirely to the Mediterranean Basin in Europe (Freyhof et al. 2013). All three species are found in lowland spring areas with the third species confined to spring areas on the Mediterranean Spanish coast (Bianco 1987).
The EUAC funded survey was conducted over two expeditions, sampling 92 sites in multiple basins from Corfu Island in the north to the Pinios River basin in the south, Peloponnese region (Figure 14). The findings of this survey were published in a report prepared by the Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters (IMBRIW), which later formed the basis of several further monitoring expeditions and publications on the distributional findings and threats to the species (Kalogianni et al. 2010, Giakoumi et al. 2006).
This expedition led to the establishment of a long-term partnership, ‘Fish Net Greece’, between the Hellenic Centre for Marine Research (HCMR) and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) which lasted until 2020, when the UK half of the partnership was transferred to the Bristol Zoological Society (BZS). Over the course of the partnership, subsequent funding resulted in multiple research and conservation initiatives, including the support of several PhDs, a conservation translocation exercise, and live teleconferencing field to school-based conservation teaching and the establishment of insurance populations of both Balkan Valencia species at ex -situ facilities in Greece.
With the initial seed funding from EUAC a vast increase in the knowledge gained and disseminated to the scientific and conservation community for these two species was achieved. A PhD student focussed on using eDNA (environmental DNA) to monitor cryptic species such as Valencia killifish and led to the more widespread use of this protocol for monitoring freshwater basins in Greece for endemic and highly threatened species (Mauvisseau et al. 2020). EUAC funding of a species-based conservation project for a little known but highly threatened freshwater teleost has demonstrated the value of providing seed funding to small projects and what they can achieve over time.

Consequences - Discussion

Since 2004, more than one quarter of a million euros were awarded to 49 projects, which spanned all over the globe (Tab. 1 and 2). The majority of funded projects had a significant impact on local populations and/or their focus species, while only few were less extensive in content and scope. Nineteen projects were part of larger associations with several projects, while eleven of these received only initial funding from EUAC, and 14 received follow-up funding. Meanwhile, EUAC awarded more than 116 000 € to 23 projects focusing on species with extinction risk.
In 2020, five projects were on standby, mostly due to the Covid-19 pandemic and financial constraints that resulted from it. From 49, only eight were not continued after the initial funding period of one year, the majority due to a particular task or scientific question.
Nearly 70% of the projects (Tab. 3) are still ongoing and therefore have managed to get further financing. In some cases, it has led to an extraordinary enlargement of the projects. That is the case of the turtle rescue station in Naples, which has developed into an Excellence Centre with an annual research budget of 100 000 €. Aquarium Pula in Croatia managed to receive 600 000 € as investment into a new turtle rescue station in Croatia. Also, the freshwater fish projects managed either to get further project money to continue the work in Greece, Turkey and Madagascar with another 100 000 €, 15 000 € and 80 000 € respectively, or are now permanently supported by constant funding, such as the Vasco da Gama Aquarium project in Portugal.
Projects from Zoo Vienna, Cologne Zoo and Zoo Leipzig have constant funding from their respective zoo’s conservation funds. Approximately 50% of the projects yielded numerous peer-reviewed articles (Tab. 3) and approximately 50% have a direct involvement in species protection programmes, often involving threatened species.
Results on projects mentioned earlier show that conservation efforts were in fact reached with the funding allocated by EUAC, and it is important to mention the quality of results achieved with limited funding, as less than 10 000 € of financial support are typically awarded per project. The majority of projects funded reported that they achieved their goals in their entirety, which were largely related to raising awareness in local populations about threatened species. Whether this fact has an actual impact in the conservation of such species, is not clear. One could however argue that, at least during the duration of each project, local communities were actively engaged with the researchers involved.
Such is the case with projects like the conservation of Achondrostoma occidentale in Portugal, Batagur baska in Bangladesh, Crocodylus siamensis in Indonesia, Valencia letourneuxi in Western Greece, or even corals in the Maldives and Croatia, and fisheries in São Tomé and Príncipe. While these projects may not have solved the underlying conservation issue, they certainly raised a considerable amount of awareness on the subject during their duration. Such projects could benefit from following up on two fronts: (1) ascertain whether any progress can be attributed to efforts conducted during the project, with the local communities originally involved, and (2) lobby for legislation that is conducive to results that benefit the project’s aim, with local governments.
The major shortcoming of any conservation effort, not EUAC’s alone, is converting financial aid into effective conservation of species. While EUAC’s funded programmes mostly focused on gathering fundamental scientific knowledge and raising awareness on species within local communities, perhaps future endeavours could focus on assisting local populations in building businesses that can convert a sustainable and positive ‘use’ of species into revenue for local communities to optimise the impact of conservation efforts. This is the path that has largely been followed to protect sharks and sea turtles, with shark diving and turtle related ecotourism activities providing far more revenue than previous activities, focusing on killing these animals. Anderson & Waheed (2001), Topelko & Dearden (2005), Clua et al. (2011), Conte (2011), Tanner (2013), Mieras et al. (2017), and Gonzáles-Mantilla et al. (2022) provide prime examples for such conservation strategies. Conservation projects must become more engaged in the real world and be able to operate under human impact. On one hand, this means realising our limitations of conserving pristine environments, but on the other involving local people and especially younger generations in conservation efforts could generate appropriate strategies for counteracting the increasing loss of biodiversity.
At the same time, small funding sources like EUAC provide quick and targeted options when scientific knowledge is lacking. Knowledge of ecology, behaviour and dynamics in animal communities are still key factors in the success of conservation and offer an informed and measurable way to conserve biological diversity and educate others. Short-term funds similarly provide important options to test new conservation directions in particular habitats or head start ex- and in situ research as foundation for larger future projects. Small scale but speedy funding options and application process also allow projects to react to possible imminent risks of extinction, rapidly implement new scientific findings or respond to unforeseen events in a reasonable timescale.
One difficulty reported by project leaders of EUAC funded programmes was the actual amount of time available to be dedicated to conservation efforts. The projects are rarely their main activity but, rather, a secondary aspect of their main duties, which are traditionally related to husbandry practices within the institution they are affiliated with. It would therefore be advantageous to have more public aquaria and zoos allocate staff to deal specifically with conservation related issues, including requesting funding and implementation of projects on the ground, with adequate follow up in the end. Such is the case of the Zoological Society of London, with the team working on Valencia letourneuxi incorporating these conservation matters into their job description, but this is not the case in most other institutions, which have limited staff and funds to allow for a department allocated exclusively to in situ and/or ex situ conservation efforts.
This limitation became abundantly clear even during the preparation of this manuscript, which admittedly falls short of providing a thorough set of information on every single project. There were multiple reasons for this, ranging from lack of follow up on project updates, criteria for evaluation the outcomes of projects and information being lost due to projects being undertaken many years ago.

Conclusions

Perhaps the most valid conclusion to be drawn from the list of projects covered in this work, is the fact that, regardless of the outcome, as far as preservation of the species are concerned, local communities were actively engaged in a subject that would, otherwise, remain unbeknown to them. Additionally, these EUAC funded projects highlight how public aquarium activities reach far beyond the acrylic panels surrounding the tanks and indeed the walls of the institution, as they spread around the world and raise awareness within local communities to preserve biodiversity. These projects further suggest that a future direction for EUAC, as well as the public aquaria it consists of, could – indeed should - include more strenuous lobbying with legislating bodies, to ensure more adequate – and stronger – in situ conservation measures. In conclusion, with so many doubts being raised by different movements about the existence of aquaria and zoos, it is important that the public is aware that it is their visit to see the ambassadors of different species of animals that allows for funding of many of these pilot projects that aim to preserve species in their natural environment.

Acknowledgements

We are indebted to the Oceanário de Lisboa’s staff for their valuable assistance with Table 1, and to João Falcato and Isabel Koch for driving this funding programme forward during their tenures as EUAC President and Secretary, respectively. Also, a special thanks to Brian Zimmerman for leading the EUAC Conservation Funding for more than a decade and driving it to support all the programmes listed in this paper, and a few others – not listed – as well.
1
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/zoos/index_en.htm
2
https://www.eaza.net/about-us/eazadocuments/
3
https://www.aza.org/animal-care-manuals?locale=en
4
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/268339849_The_Elasmobranch_Husbandry_Manual_Captive_Care_of_Sharks_Rays_and_their_Relatives_Editors
5
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319762551_The_Elasmobranch_Husbandry_Manual_II_-_Recent_Advances_in_the_Care_of_Sharks_Rays_and_their_Relatives
6
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/288802992_Advances_in_coral_husbandry_in_public_aquariums

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Figure 1. – Pinna nobilis in the south Adriatic Sea. Photo: Aquarium Pula.
Figure 1. – Pinna nobilis in the south Adriatic Sea. Photo: Aquarium Pula.
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Figure 2. - Thomas Ziegler with Pelodiscus variegatus at Cologne Zoo. Photo: Thomas Ziegler.
Figure 2. - Thomas Ziegler with Pelodiscus variegatus at Cologne Zoo. Photo: Thomas Ziegler.
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Figure 3. - Cladocora caespitosa in Medulin Bay, Istria, Croatia. Photo: Pula Aquarium.
Figure 3. - Cladocora caespitosa in Medulin Bay, Istria, Croatia. Photo: Pula Aquarium.
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Figure 4. – Practical lesson for attaching coral fragments with school class in Ukulhas, 2019. Photo: Coral Doctors Association.
Figure 4. – Practical lesson for attaching coral fragments with school class in Ukulhas, 2019. Photo: Coral Doctors Association.
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Figure 5. – Lesson about Planting coral fragments directly in the reef, Konotta. Photo: Coral Doctors Association.
Figure 5. – Lesson about Planting coral fragments directly in the reef, Konotta. Photo: Coral Doctors Association.
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Figure 6. - Project Batagur baska - transmitter being fixed on a male. Photo: Rupali-Ghosh, Vienna Zoo.
Figure 6. - Project Batagur baska - transmitter being fixed on a male. Photo: Rupali-Ghosh, Vienna Zoo.
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Figure 7. - Project Batagur baska - Male with transmitter being released in the Sundarbans. Photo: Rupert Kainradl.
Figure 7. - Project Batagur baska - Male with transmitter being released in the Sundarbans. Photo: Rupert Kainradl.
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Figure 8. - Fish release in Alcabrichel. Photo: Aquário Vasco da Gama.
Figure 8. - Fish release in Alcabrichel. Photo: Aquário Vasco da Gama.
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Figure 9. – Presenting fish to school children. Photo: Aquário Vasco da Gama.
Figure 9. – Presenting fish to school children. Photo: Aquário Vasco da Gama.
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Figure 10. - Thomas Ziegler with Crocodylus siamensis at Cologne Zoo. Photo: Thomas Ziegler.
Figure 10. - Thomas Ziegler with Crocodylus siamensis at Cologne Zoo. Photo: Thomas Ziegler.
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Figure 11. - Searching for the Critically Endangered Mangarahara cichlid and taking water quality samples from one of the locations, with the help of the local community. Photo: Tim McCaskie.
Figure 11. - Searching for the Critically Endangered Mangarahara cichlid and taking water quality samples from one of the locations, with the help of the local community. Photo: Tim McCaskie.
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Figure 12. – Poster with commercially exploited marine fish species in São Tomé and Príncipe.
Figure 12. – Poster with commercially exploited marine fish species in São Tomé and Príncipe.
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Figure 13. – The book ‘Coastal Marine Fishes of São Tomé and Príncipe’ bilingual (Portuguese and English) edition.
Figure 13. – The book ‘Coastal Marine Fishes of São Tomé and Príncipe’ bilingual (Portuguese and English) edition.
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Figure 14. - Sampling for the Critically Endangered Corfu killifish, Valencia letourneuxi. Photo: Yannis Kapakos.
Figure 14. - Sampling for the Critically Endangered Corfu killifish, Valencia letourneuxi. Photo: Yannis Kapakos.
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Table 3. Status of 49 projects funded from 2004 to 2020 by the European Union of Aquarium Curators.
Table 3. Status of 49 projects funded from 2004 to 2020 by the European Union of Aquarium Curators.
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Caption:Funding: Initial funding (I); part of bigger Project (P); Follow up (F)? Running: Project still running? (Y/N). Follow-up: Follow-up funding received? (Y/N). Publications: Peer-reviewed publications from Project? (Y/N). Extinction risk: Involvement in protection of endangered species? (Y/N). n.a.: information not available. n.c.: not counted. standby: project on hold (usually due to Covid-19 pandemic).
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