2023 Volume 17 Pages 91-100
I investigated actual sales of Acheilognathus tabira nakamurae on internet auctions from January 2011 to March 2021 (designated as a "nationally rare species of wild fauna/flora" in February 2020) and evaluated the effect of the "nationally rare species of wild fauna/flora" designation. Of the 723 confirmed sale records, 5.5% were wild caught (WC), 72.9% were captive bred (CB), and 21.6% were unknown. Additionally, the designation of A. tabira nakamurae as a "nationally rare species of wild fauna/flora" has at least ostensibly prevented its sale. Throughout the study period, the proportion of transactions that could be determined as WC were small, and the proportion of alleged CB was relatively large. Therefore, suggesting that the importance of sales restrictions through designation as a "nationally rare species of wild fauna/flora" is not so high for this species. If poaching for the purpose of breeding increases in spite of the catch control regulations, it is necessary to consider the option of shifting the category to "designated class 1 nationally endangered species of wild fauna/flora". In this category only specific operators may engage in the business of a national species or be allowed to engage in commercial transactions of CB as a measure to control poaching.
