Isn't it also true that there's a limit on how many gem tangs you can bring in per shipment? I was always under the impression that part of the high cost was to compensate for the fact that you are forced to buy a bunch of common "filler" fish at very high prices to finish off the box, and then you have to sell those fish basically at cost and rely on the few gem tangs to make a profit. (Full disclosure- I've seen the Mauritius export list; these fish are expensive right from the get-go.)
I thought it was cause the few shipping fish out of Mauritius are smart and only ship one gem tang per order of so much bread and butter fish (I don't know the exact amount). I understand they come from far away but it's more smart business than location. I honestly don't think Gems or zebra tangs are all that scarce. The fact that they only come from one location though, and the amount of collectors are limited gives the exporters all the leverage to limit how many leave the country. Prices would be half if they shipped whole boxes of gems.
If it was simply a madder of location, Austrailian fish would be just as bad.
The requirement to carry bread & butter fish in order to receive a high end fish is common in the trade and not unique to Mauritius. Same with corals.
I thought it was illegal to fish those waters for gem tangs? Thats why they were so expensive?
I believe you meant to say fishing in those waters are regulated. The gems we have here were legally collected.
Maneeka Gurroby talks about how her family collect the gem tang in Mauritius during MACNA 2014. There is a very limited amount of permits given out by the government that allows the collection of gem tangs. This in part limits the supply and is a contributing factor (in addition to all of Kenny's points) to the cost.
Heres the BRS link to the talk for anyone interested. It's quite fascinating really.
http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/video...s-in-Mauritius-by-Meneeka-Gurroby-MACNA-2014/
Yeah I saw that. Thanks for posting this helpful link. Yeah being regulated also contributes to limited supply which when exceeded by demand common economics come into play.