Mike Kirda's Palauig Philippines Visit

[John_Brandt]

See Mike Kirda's report for more information on collecting and the aquarium export trade in the Philippines.


http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-04/mk/feature/index.htm

This thread would be a good place for additional discussion.

 

[Fredfish]

It made for a very interesting read, thanks Mike.

His article shows a different view of collection issues and paints some of the exporters in a different light.

I wonder if the collectors can effectively form a co-op to export net caught fish, bypassing the less scrupulous (sp?) exporters?

Fred.

 

[mkirda]

It made for a very interesting read, thanks Mike.

I wonder if the collectors can effectively form a co-op to export net caught fish, bypassing the less scrupulous (sp?) exporters?

Fred.

Well, Fred, it has been tried and didn't really work out. Look at Jaime's talk from '99 (I think).

Now a fisherman's collective that has a large enough membership might have some clout. You are effectively talking about unionization though...
I have no idea how well that idea would translate into Pilipino.
And somehow, I don't think that the exporters would take it sitting down.
Until the numbers of net-caught collectors reaches more than 50% of all collectors, and they all join the collective... You do understand that it would translate directly into higher costs for hobbyists, right?

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[clarionreef]

Hey Fred,
Unless the collectors collective came up with enough variety from the different parts of the country...the market would soon tire of them and go back to the old way.
The closest thing there is to a collective now is the gathering of netsman around a select few exporters who support them. Many collectors already know that such a deal would be a mixed blessing. Its not that easy to work Manila and administer all the administrative, logistical and marketing arrangements without serious subsidy from somewhere.
Steve

 

[mkirda]

Its not that easy to work Manila and administer all the administrative, logistical and marketing arrangements without serious subsidy from somewhere.
Steve

The collectors also have a very different skill set than what is needed to run an export facility... They have their own problems to deal with.

Regards.
Mike Kirda

 

[Fredfish]

And somehow, I don't think that the exporters would take it sitting down.

I suspect this would be a large deterent.

You do understand that it would translate directly into higher costs for hobbyists, right?

Havn't run into anything besides DIY that makes the hobby less expensive. Come to think of it, I probably don't save much on most of my DIY projects either. :lol:

More expensive is not such a bad thing to me. Maybe then people would think twice and do a little more research before they buy... nah.

Fred.

 

[clarionreef]

Fred,
There was something that made the trade less expensive. The exchange rate fell off the table and the dollar became almost double in value. But...the divers were paid the same as before.
The windfall went unnoticed at the diver level and at the importer and retail level.
Exporters could've shared some of the windfall and that alone would be the extra incentive that Mike suggests would make net training and the MAC program more interesting to them.
The exporters association members, dutiful signers of the MAC letter of commitment said no... "no way Jose"!
And so the lack of progress continued...unnoticed except by the Roger and his divers profiled in Mikes article here.
Shame really. So many lost opportunities.
Steve

 

[Fredfish]

In most other industries, when there is an opportunity for a fairly large shift, it dosn't usually come from the large companies that dominate the industry, but from new entrants.

If you have an industry where the major players implement "deterents" to change, you have exactly the problems we are seeing in the Phillipines.

Hopefully something will come along to break the cycle.

Fred.

 

[clarionreef]

Fred,
Good point. To break the cycle, an all netcaught fish done right business has to become profitable and make others want to follow. So far, the people with the better business acumen and capital are silently and strongly status quo. The reform style importers, though vocal and more informed day by day, are generally smaller and poorer: hallmarks of uncompromising idealism...and bad for the bottom line.
Netcaught could work all the way...finally there are enough sources to knit together and enough netcaught fish available [barely]. But we who know this thing best are poorly capitalized and never that attractive to investors.
Millions get invested into the wrong side of this business...but only a few thou invested in doing it legally, morally and netcaught ALL THE WAY. The cynical and deceitful practice of mixing cyanide fish with netcaught and claiming all were sanitized [ ie greenwashing] has set the reform movement back and killed hundreds of thousands more coral heads.
Now, even mail order claims to be environmentally responsible.
Good marketing and P.R I guess, but its lying.
It may begin to change seriously like many insane, non sustainable practices, but the collateral damage in the mean time continues to mount.
I'm netcaught and have been for 25 years. and... I have little to show for it to prove it. Steve

 

[PeterIMA]

Fred, I think we are close to "breaking the cycle". There are now three export companies that are paying the collectors more for their marine aquarium fish. These companies are outside the Philippine Tropical Exporters Association. So the choice now is to buy from these three companies or to buy from companies that are members of the Philippine Tropical Fish Exporters Association (two of which are MAC Certified companies).

Ferdinand Cruz will be on Reefs.org soon to explain what has been happening.
Peter Rubec