clarionreef
Advanced Reefer
- Location
- San Francisco
Lets see it another way;
Perhaps its best to put it in a context that people can relate to and understand better. It works when training fisherman abroad, so why not try it on Americans?
So where have all the blue tangs gone?
If ever there was an indicator fish for healthy reef areas [ and also viable wholesalers] , this is it.
They live all over the tropics from Kenya to Tahiti and everywhere in between. They are in constant demand. The 'Dory to Nemo' as it were.
They are a poor food fish and although some really large ones are taken, the ones the aquarium trade covets are much smaller.
Only Bali lists have them with any regularity now and none of those come from Bali. The Bali blue tang is very rare. Long boats that range thruout the Indonesian archipelago for weeks at a time are the source of most of the trades blue tangs now.
To a lesser degree the futher reaches of the Solomons produce still, but its off and on as only the long boats can go get them.
Nobody wants 2-4 inch blue tangs but us...and the question is, where are they? What has happened?
If they are the classic indicator species and are absent from most reefs now, how is sustainability defined in those areas...where most fisherman live and work? The collection area management plans [CAMP] survey where the fisherman live...but to get blue tangs now...they must always go futher afield where there is no plan.
No fish tells the story of the need for industry reform better then this classic and important fish.
Steve
Perhaps its best to put it in a context that people can relate to and understand better. It works when training fisherman abroad, so why not try it on Americans?
So where have all the blue tangs gone?
If ever there was an indicator fish for healthy reef areas [ and also viable wholesalers] , this is it.
They live all over the tropics from Kenya to Tahiti and everywhere in between. They are in constant demand. The 'Dory to Nemo' as it were.
They are a poor food fish and although some really large ones are taken, the ones the aquarium trade covets are much smaller.
Only Bali lists have them with any regularity now and none of those come from Bali. The Bali blue tang is very rare. Long boats that range thruout the Indonesian archipelago for weeks at a time are the source of most of the trades blue tangs now.
To a lesser degree the futher reaches of the Solomons produce still, but its off and on as only the long boats can go get them.
Nobody wants 2-4 inch blue tangs but us...and the question is, where are they? What has happened?
If they are the classic indicator species and are absent from most reefs now, how is sustainability defined in those areas...where most fisherman live and work? The collection area management plans [CAMP] survey where the fisherman live...but to get blue tangs now...they must always go futher afield where there is no plan.
No fish tells the story of the need for industry reform better then this classic and important fish.
Steve
