Thoughts on the future of Reefing

[Mouse]

There are too many people who dont know what there doing in Fishkeeping in general. I just want to see a stop to the "ill have the pretty one" brigade. And a complete anniahalation of the "but i only want one coral" crew. And free licences to collect for the "I live for my reef" massive.

 

[esmithiii]

The list makes it sound easier than it really is, BTW. Aquire your own bird means that you have to select one in the wild and trap it, train it, etc which is not so easy. Trapping your own bird is difficult because there is a season, there are only certain birds that are appropriate, a given specimine may not make a suitable training subject, and the age of the bird is critical.

I know a falconer, and the cost and time required is more than 99% of the people on this board could bear.

BTW- the number of licensed falconers in the US barely breaks three digets.

Is that what you want for this hobby?

 

[C. Alan]

Recently, on both this board, and Reefcentral, there has been a lot of discussion about the ethics and future of our hobby. I think a lot of us see some kind of government intervention on the horizon. Let’s face it, it is just a matter of time till it happens.

So what can we do? How do we create a system that makes both the government and/or the environmentalist happy, with out having to tear down our tanks? I think there may be a way.

We need to take a page from another controversial hobby, Falconry.

Falconry is alive and well here in the united states, and it is mainly because the clubs and organizations that are part of the hobby have taken a lead in crafting regulations that insure that both the birds are protected, and the hobbyist is well educated.

Lets take a look at the steps that it takes to become a falconer. I took this list from http://www.arcatapet.com/dgwake/falconry.htm

15 STEPS TO BECOMING A FALCONER
1. Discover your interest in the sport.
2. Read all the literature that you can find on the subject.
3. Contact the Department of Fish and Game in your state, ask for a Falconry packet.
4. Study the Federal and state regulations.
5. Contact a nearby Falconer and ask if it would be possible to meet him/her.
6. Get yourself invited to go out hawking with a practicing Falconer.
7. Ask yourself if this is really for me, can I devote my life to this?
8. Locate a General or preferably a Master Falconer who is willing to Sponsor you.
9. Schedule to take the Falconry exam with Dept. of Fish and Game.
10. After taking the exam with a passing score continue with the list.
11. Build and have mews inspected.
12. Get together with your Sponsor and acquire the appropriate bird.
13. Spend the next 2 years working with and flying this bird. Take the bird through the molt.
14. Time for deep personal insight is Falconry really for you?
15. Spend the rest of your life in partnerships with some of the most temperamental, unforgiving, beautiful animals on the earth.

I believe something along these lines would insure the survival of our hobby, and a lot more creature in our tanks. Would it be more expensive? Yes, but the other option of a complete ban would be even more expensive.

This is just a suggestion. Now, I will put on my flame retardent suit.

Thank you,

 

[Anonymous]

I think the hobby is currently too widespread to have such strict requirements. I think the solution lies in improving collection standards and practices and stricter import regulations and quotas.

Glenn