yellow tang on the reef Fabric bykolekine

The yellow tang (Zebrasoma flavescens) is an important herbivore on the reef. Native to the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Hawaii, this fish is named for its bright yellow coloring and protective white scalpel (or tang) near its tail. Unfortunately, their beauty makes them a prized fish in the aquarium trade. Most are taken from Hawaiian reefs, with 300,000 to 400,000 exported annually. In 2015, the Oceanic Institute of Hawaii Pacific University became the first facility to successfully breed and raise yellow tangs for home and public aquariums, which will hopefully help relieve collection pressure on Hawaii’s reefs as captive breeding increases.