The Humphead Wrasse is widely distributed but is nowhere common, naturally. Wherever it is fished, even if only moderately, density quickly declines to 25% or less of peak densities recorded at no fishing. The Humphead Wrasse is widely distributed on coral reefs and inshore habitats throughout much of the tropical Indo-Pacific, from western Indian Ocean and Red Sea to southern Japan, New Caledonia and into the central Pacific Ocean. In Australia, it occurs on offshore reefs of north-western Australia and the Great Barrier Reef.

Live reef fish trade
It is particularly heavily exploited at the centre of its range in southeastern Asia where its coral reef habitat is most abundant, and particularly in key supply countries for the live reef fish trade, Malaysia and Indonesia, and out of Palawan, its stronghold in the Philippines.

Lack of protection
According to IUCN Red List protective legislation in most places appears to be ineffective. Although authorities in different countries do seize illegal caught wrasses Airport law enforcers net valuable reef fish cargo from time to time, this is far from enough. Although data are not available from throughout its range, wherever there are significant exports and no effective controls, fish numbers have declined substantially within a decade or less and exploitation rates are expected to continue, or more likely, intensify. There are few refuges for this species since live reef fish carriers have access to all reefs where it occurs and it does not extend into very deep water, probably little more than 60 m. Adults only occur in reasonable numbers where the fishery is effectively managed or where they occur in marine protected areas

Read more about the endangered fish here;

OceanNEnvironment’s Napoleon Wrasse International Monitoring Program (NAPWATCH)

Reef fish face extinction as many end up on dinner tables

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