Masked Puffer

There have been no confirmed population declines in A. diadematus. However, because of its affinity with coral reefs, we infer that A. diadematus may be experiencing population declines due to habitat loss in parts of its range.

In the Red Sea, which includes 17,640 km2 of coral reef area, 4% of the reefs have been effectively lost (90% mortality), while another 4% are at a critical stage with 50–90% loss of coral cover as of 2008 (Wilkinson et al. 2008).

In Egypt, coastal development to accommodate expanding tourism, which includes road construction and the discharging of waste from desalination, sewage, and wastewater treatment plants, as well as beach replenishment, increasing fishery, and the production of trash and pollutants, has negatively affected some reefs (Heisse et al. 2005). Additionally, physical damage to corals directly caused by recreational human activities is significant on some reefs (Jameson et al. 1999). As of 2008, the status of coral reefs and coral communities in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden was generally good, with coral cover averaging 30–50%. However pressures from major development for mass tourism and industrialization, over-exploitation and destructive fishing in poorly managed fisheries, Crown-of-Thorns outbreaks, and bleaching events are expected to increase (Kotb et al. 2004).

Arothron diadematus is targeted by collectors for the marine aquarium trade in Egypt, Yemen, and Saudi Arabia, and is of moderate value. Collection pressure is expected to continue to increase. Although there have been no recorded decreases in the abundance of this species, marked decreases in the abundance of other targeted species have been observed on Egyptian reefs from 1997 to 2002 (Kotb et al. 2004).