Caught On Camera: The Napoleon WrasseBy bioGraphic, adapted by Newsela staff on 09.20.17 Word Count 433 Level 850L

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 1

A healthy and protected Napoleon wrasse swims by a patient photographer. Photograph by: Graham Eaton.

A Napoleon wrasse swims past a photographer underwater. The big fish is curious, but doesn't seem to be bothered by the human intruder. It also doesn't seem to realize that it is in big danger. This part of the Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, is very peaceful. Fish are protected here. Even large predators like Napoleon wrasses and groupers are able to maintain pretty healthy populations. Here, and in a few other protected reef habitats, the fish can gather in groups of dozens to more than a hundred.

Indo-Pacific Fish Crisis

Unfortunately, healthy Napoleon wrasse populations are not the norm in the rest of the world. The species can be found in the Red Sea and across a big section of the ocean called the Indo-Pacific. In most of these places, their numbers are dropping.The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a world group that protects nature. It lists the species as endangered. The group says that the Napoleon wrasse population has rapidly declined in many areas over the past 10 to 15 years. The primary reason is simple, says Luiz Rocha. He is an expert in ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences. Ichthyologists study fish. “They’re big, tasty and easy to catch," Rocha said of the Napoleon wrasse.

"They Know Where To Go"

The wrasses spawn, or lay eggs, in large groups. However, that hasn’t helped the fish's chances. Fishermen know about this behavior, says Rocha. “So they know where to go to score big.”

What’s more, wrasses are slow to have offspring. Napoleon wrasses can grow to 6 feet long, weigh as much as 400 pounds, and live 30 years or more. But they typically do not lay eggs until they are 6 years old. A new generation is produced only every 10 years or so.

In recent years, there is another reason the wrasses are dying out: its lips. The fish’s lips have become a prized delicacy in certain parts of Asia. In Hong Kong, for instance, the lips of a large wrasse can cost as much as $20,000 per pair. The species has effectively been wiped out of waters near Hong Kong, says Rocha. Fishermen are now hunting for the fish in the waters off Indonesia and the Philippines. Today, the only real hope for the Napoleon wrasse is more and larger protected marine areas, like this one in the Red Sea.

Quiz

1 Select the sentence from the section that shows WHY fishermen must now hunt Napoleon wrasses in Indonesia and the Philippines.

(A) “They’re big, tasty and easy to catch," Rocha said of the Napoleon wrasse.

(B) Napoleon wrasses can grow to 6 feet long, weigh as much as 400 pounds and live 30 years or more.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 2

(C) However, that hasn’t helped the fish's chances. Fishermen know about this behavior, says Rocha.

(D) The species has effectively been wiped out of waters near Hong Kong, says Rocha.

2 Read the selection below from the introductory paragraph.

A Napoleon wrasse swims past a photographer underwater. The big fish is curious, but doesn't seem to be bothered by the human intruder. It also doesn't seem to realize that it is in big danger. This part of the Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, is very peaceful. Fish are protected here. Even large predators like Napoleon wrasses and groupers are able to maintain pretty healthy populations. Here, and in a few other protected reef habitats, the fish can gather in groups of dozens to more than a hundred.

Which sentence from this selection BEST supports the conclusion that wrasses are safe in the Red Sea?

(A) A Napoleon wrasse swims past a photographer underwater.

(B) The big fish is curious, but doesn't seem to be bothered by the human intruder.

(C) This part of the Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, is very peaceful.

(D) Here, and in a few other protected reef habitats, the fish can gather in groups of dozens to more than a hundred.

3 One main idea of the article is that fishermen have had a negative effect on populations of Napoleon wrasse.

What is another MAIN idea of the article?

(A) Napoleon wrasses can grow to be more than 400 pounds.

(B) People in Hong Kong are willing to spend a lot on fish lips.

(C) Protected areas can save populations of Napoleon wrasses.

(D) Napoleon wrasses do not have babies until they are age 6.

4 Which sentence from the article would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?

(A) The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a world group that protects nature.

(B) The group says that the Napoleon wrasse population has rapidly declined in many areas over the past 10 to 15 years.

(C) He is an expert in ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences. Ichthyologists study fish.

(D) Fishermen are now hunting for the fish in the waters off Indonesia and the Philippines.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 3

Answer Key

1 Select the sentence from the section that shows WHY fishermen must now hunt Napoleon wrasses in Indonesia and the Philippines.

(A) “They’re big, tasty and easy to catch," Rocha said of the Napoleon wrasse.

(B) Napoleon wrasses can grow to 6 feet long, weigh as much as 400 pounds and live 30 years or more.

(C) However, that hasn’t helped the fish's chances. Fishermen know about this behavior, says Rocha.

(D) The species has effectively been wiped out of waters near Hong Kong, says Rocha.

2 Read the selection below from the introductory paragraph.

A Napoleon wrasse swims past a photographer underwater. The big fish is curious, but doesn't seem to be bothered by the human intruder. It also doesn't seem to realize that it is in big danger. This part of the Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, is very peaceful. Fish are protected here. Even large predators like Napoleon wrasses and groupers are able to maintain pretty healthy populations. Here, and in a few other protected reef habitats, the fish can gather in groups of dozens to more than a hundred.

Which sentence from this selection BEST supports the conclusion that wrasses are safe in the Red Sea?

(A) A Napoleon wrasse swims past a photographer underwater.

(B) The big fish is curious, but doesn't seem to be bothered by the human intruder.

(C) This part of the Red Sea, off the coast of Egypt, is very peaceful.

(D) Here, and in a few other protected reef habitats, the fish can gather in groups of dozens to more than a hundred.

3 One main idea of the article is that fishermen have had a negative effect on populations of Napoleon wrasse.

What is another MAIN idea of the article?

(A) Napoleon wrasses can grow to be more than 400 pounds.

(B) People in Hong Kong are willing to spend a lot on fish lips.

(C) Protected areas can save populations of Napoleon wrasses.

(D) Napoleon wrasses do not have babies until they are age 6.

4 Which sentence from the article would be MOST important to include in a summary of the article?

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 4

(A) The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a world group that protects nature.

(B) The group says that the Napoleon wrasse population has rapidly declined in many areas over the past 10 to 15 years.

(C) He is an expert in ichthyology at the California Academy of Sciences. Ichthyologists study fish.

(D) Fishermen are now hunting for the fish in the waters off Indonesia and the Philippines.

This article is available at 5 reading levels at https://newsela.com. 5