A high-resolution species-level dataset of global marine ornamental imports into the United Kingdom
Murray, J.M.; Alewijnse, S.R.; Harrod, O.; Hughes, D.; MacMillan, I.; Popham, C.; Roebuck, E. (2026). A high-resolution species-level dataset of global marine ornamental imports into the United Kingdom. Scientific Data In press. https://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-07852-6
In: Scientific Data. Nature Publishing Group: London. ISSN 2052-4463; e-ISSN 2052-4463, more
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| Authors | | Top |
- Murray, J.M.
- Alewijnse, S.R.
- Harrod, O.
- Hughes, D.
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- MacMillan, I.
- Popham, C.
- Roebuck, E.
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| Abstract |
The global marine aquarium trade moves thousands of fish and invertebrate species, mostly from Indo-Pacific coral reefs to aquariums in the United States of America, Europe, and East Asia. Characterising which species are traded, in what volumes, and from where remains difficult due to complex supply chains, with shipment import records providing the most reliable data. This dataset presents species-level information on marine ornamental imports into the UK during selected periods in 2018 and 2019. Sales invoices from London Heathrow Airport’s Border Control Post were collected, scanned, digitised, and standardised. In total, 287 invoices containing marine species were processed, documenting 1,664 taxa, 82% identified to species level across 241 families and 20 classes. Non-scleractinian invertebrates accounted for the highest trade volumes, while bony fishes represented most species traded and over half of the trade’s value. This high-resolution dataset provides new insight into the UK’s role in the global marine aquarium trade and supports efforts to identify vulnerable species and promote more sustainable and transparent trade practices. |
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