at one time this fish was listed as "vulnerable" by the international union for conservation of nature in their red list of threatened species but in 2010, this was changed to being of "least concern". the reason given for this change was that, although its range was very limited, this fish was quite common within that range and did not face any significant threats. a small number of fish were collected for the reef aquarium trade but the number was not believed to reduce the population to any great extent.