Thanks to SPC for alerting me to this thread.
First, to answer the "rumors of my demise":
cjdevito- Nothing could be further from the truth! After the hobbyists united in a joint effort to fight the Caulerpa bill I was amazed by what the hobbyists can/are willing to do when motivated!
Baalz- That is true. Someone did get involved in my personal business. However, I have dealt with that person and learned a valuable lesson...everyone that you talk to on a regular basis is not necessarily a friend!
As to my creditials- I serve on the board of directors for the Marine Aquarium Council (
www.aquariumcouncil.org) and the American Marinelife Dealers Association (
www.amdareef.com). I also own and operate a small import/wholesale facility outside of Los Angeles and have been in the industry over 13 years.
Now, for the issue at hand- naesco's question.
Start by reading my letter to the USCRTF- that gives you a good idea where I stand.
http://www.reefsource.com/uscrtf.htm
Concerning bans...
I am not in favor of any bans for three reasons:
1. I obviously make my living importing corals, so one of the reasons has to be my income level.
2. This industry IS sustainable- both in the collection of fish and corals. Australia is an excellent example of where proper management laws combined with enforcement have led to a sustainable industry. The question is "How do you make all of the other coral collecting countries follow Australia's lead?". People in this industry are not going to do things right out of the goodness of their hearts. They'll do it for money. The Marine Aquarium Council is attempting to do that by making the demand for sustainably collected/handled/shipped animals larger and then by putting a certification program into place to insure sustainable methods. For more on the Marine Aquarium Council, read my #reefs talk at
http://www.reefs.org/library/talklog/m_middlebrook_092301.html
3. Banning the collection of corals/fish for the aquarium trade will lead to more destructive fishing practices. How so? Well, realize that most collection is done by native peoples who are just trying to feed their families on a day to day basis. They are divers by trade, and don't have other career options. Take away diving for the ornamental trade and they'll start dynamiting the reefs for the food trade. It is more important to make the reefs VALUABLE to them. For example, we are now working exclusively with the only NATIVE OWNED AND OPERATED collection station in Fiji. Can you belive that of all of the product coming out of Fiji only one station is actually owned by the natives? Instead of them working for pennies to collect for the exporter, we pay them over 3 times the amount they were getting to collect for us. That way the reefs are more valuable to them and we have a greater control over the techniques they are using. I think the cure to the whole problem is to put more money into the hands of the people who own the resource- give them a reason to take care of the reefs and then give them the tools and knowledge to do it. I also am in STRONG support of in situ aquaculture farms operated by the natives.
Hope that sheds some light on my position.
Ok, now for the reason I haven't been around lately. The fall and winter months are "busy season" in the industry and I have been swamped! Plus, we have recently set up our new Fiji collection station and that is taking up about 110% of my time. I have been asked to moderate a forum on this board concerning industry issues, but currently don't have the time to devote to it- hopefully we can start that early next year. Until then, if you guys promise to alert me to "industry" threads, I promise to respond. Just e-mail me at
[email protected]
