The value of the animal to marine aquarium hobbyists was immediately recognized by SEASMART’s Port Moresby export facility staff, who only purchase fish from SEASMART trained fishers. Given the central mission of the SEASMART Program to support immediate socio-economic development in the villages where the SEASMART-trained fishers live, the facility staff immediately authorized a payment to the fisher commensurate with the fish’s value. Such an action is, unfortunately, still rare in the marine aquarium trade, especially when the collector is a trained local fisher who is net-collecting fish in shallow water.

Most Expensive Clownfish Ever Sold?"
The PNG lightning maroon clownfish was subsequently sold to Pacific Aqua Farms (PAF), a respected importer and wholesaler in Los Angeles. “PAF, owned and operated by Dave Palmer, has been an early and frequent supporter of the SEASMART Program,” says Mark Schreffler, manager of the SEASMART export facility in Port Moresby, PNG. “We were happy to get this fish into Dave’s very capable hands, as we knew he would ensure that the fish made it to the right retailer and, ultimately, the right aquarist.”

Who is the right aquarist for a fish such as this? “We wanted to see this fish go to a respected independent breeder,” says Mark Martin of Blue Zoo Aquatics, the retailer that would ultimately execute the sale of the fish to an aquarist. While offers exceeding $5000 were made, Blue Zoo’s commitment to the hobby and, specifically, to this very special fish meant that the PNG lightning maroon clownfish did not simply go to the highest bidder.

“In the final equation, the ones who made out the most,” says Martin, “are the fisher and the SEASMART Program.” That’s exactly as it should be, he is quick to explain, given how valuable this fish may be to the hobby if the variation can be replicated in subsequent generations. In addition, the breeder who ultimately purchased the fish offered Blue Zoo the right of first refusal on at least the first couple batches of offspring produced from the fish. “Beyond the market here in the States,” Martin also points out, “it’s heartening to know that this trade can, in fact, provide real, traceable economic benefit to the fishers upon which this hobby depends.

Breeding a Wild-Caught PNG Designer Clownfish
On the last day of March, the fish was shipped to Matt Pedersen, a well-known breeder living in Duluth, Minnesota. Blue Zoo Aquatics also sent Pedersen a large, female “normal” maroon clownfish collected from the same reef in an effort to provide Pedersen with the best mate. Plans are in the works to also obtain two more juveniles from the same reef in the event that the initial pairing is unsuccessful. “PNG is also working on developing the capacity to breed these striking offerings from their reefs,” says SEASMART Program Director David Vosseler. “The future is filled with exciting breeding possibilities through the back and forth exchange of “PNG” gene pools with international sources.”

“My vision is to not develop any strain behind closed doors,” says Pedersen. “I intend to document and share the work.” Pedersen expects the first offspring (the F1 generation) to look like normal maroon clownfish. “It will be pairings of those

The Lightning Project
In reality, this is just the beginning of the story of a fish from a reef off an island off the coastline of Papua New Guinea. “It’s truly remarkable,” says Vosseler, “that a small fish can be such an effective ambassador for Papua New Guinea, not to mention a beautiful example of a sustainable and equitable marine aquarium trade. While we pride ourselves on the quality of every animal shipped from PNG, I must admit it is fun when, every once and a while, we can provide the hobby with a fish like this PNG lightning maroon clown.”

To follow the story of this fish, please feel free to visit its very own website at www.TheLightningProject.com hosted by Matt Pedersen.