Mortality

[PeterIMA]

Reply to Bookfish,

The mortality rate on the reefs (50%) estimated in 1987 referred to cyanide use in the Philippines. I am happy to hear that nets are used in Tonga and that the mortalities there are low. Hopefully, we can still effect reform in Indonesia and the Philippines to stop cyanide fishing to attain better quality fish while protecting the coral reefs.

Peter Rubec

 

[Anonymous]

1987 8O What a difference nearly TWO DECADES makes :lol:

 

[PeterIMA]

The main issue is sustainabiliy of the coral reefs. Degraded reefs produce less fish and fewer fish species. Habitat destruction is the issue, not the subsequent mortalites through the chain of custody. The trade needs to support net training, sustainable harvest, and mariculture of marine organisms (fish, corals,and other inverts) to attain a sustainble marine aquarium trade. These issues were the main focus of the Sustainability Symposum at MO06.

The trade needs to be concerned about the supply of marine organisms. The supply is declining while the demand grows. This can not continue. Steps need to be taken to better manage marine resources in the countries of origin. Some means of providing better compensation to the fishers, marine farmers, and collectors needs to be developed. Those in the trade need to become proactive in ensuring that this happens to protect their bottom lines and the future of the MO trades.

Peter Rubec

 

[Anonymous]

The main issue is sustainabiliy of the coral reefs. Degraded reefs produce less fish and fewer fish species. Habitat destruction is the issue, not the subsequent mortalites through the chain of custody. The trade needs to support net training, sustainable harvest, and mariculture of marine organisms (fish, corals,and other inverts) to attain a sustainble marine aquarium trade. These issues were the main focus of the Sustainability Symposum at MO06.

The trade needs to be concerned about the supply of marine organisms. The supply is declining while the demand grows. This can not continue. Steps need to be taken to better manage marine resources in the countries of origin. Some means of providing better compensation to the fishers, marine farmers, and collectors needs to be developed. Those in the trade need to become proactive in ensuring that this happens to protect their bottom lines and the future of the MO trades.

Peter Rubec

And this differs from my stance for the last decade how? Our mission is nearly the same Peter, it's just how we get there that many can't agree upon

 

[PeterIMA]

Gresham, My comments were not directed at you. They were general comments for the trade. I welcome inputs concerning how we can attain a sustainable trade. Your input and that of others involved with the trade is important.

Peter

 

[clarionreef]

Excellent re-set of the issue Peter.
The improvement of the quality of cyanide caught fishes imported has sown confusion.
While its true that many importers now suffer lower mortalities, if the process to bring them the better screened and handled fish has involved poisoning larvae and critical coral habitat, then we are still accessories to a crime against all things; ie. nature, the future, the industrys better interests, our own self esteem, etc.
Even if the deaths upon arrival were zero percent....the routine and systematic killing of critical habitat will still be illegal and inexcusable.Few would be the importer who can claim that his lowered DOAs carried no destruction of habitat and killing of coral.
If all the BALI shippers [except the non MAC Les village co-operative ] and Philippine shippers still carry a good % of cyanide fish...they still ruin the chances to get this right.
How can anyone mention sustainability with a straight face if they are still plugged into the trade of poison distribution thru-out the islands???
If we as a merchant class are all de-facto accomplices in this thing then we need more then a feel-good PR fix and a fig-leaf offered by MAC to fix it.
Its fortunate that the cyanide fish of today are screened better...at least the importer makes more money. But...what of the reefs? The fisherman and the future of all?
Steve

 

[PeterIMA]

Steve,

I agree with Spawner that observers are needed. But, I feel they are required in both import and export facilities as well as wholesale facilities in the USA and in other countries like Indonesia and the Philipppines. They need to independent of the trade and the MAC. If the MAC were sincere, they could contract local universties or NGOs to conduct the monitoring. I fear that the monitoring being proposed is intended to "Greenwash" the trade.

It would also be helpful if ReefCheck would be willing to share their data obtained from underwater surveys funded through MAMTI (World Bank GEF) in PI and Indo. So, far this is not the case. Hence, the conditions of the reefs, and how this information is being used by the MAC to limit collecting in depleted areas is unknown.

Peter Rubec

 

[clarionreef]

observers????
We call them employees.
They observe everything and anything and year after year.
Steve
Buy em a beer or two after hours and you can get the gist of things far better then in a planned, staged event.[ especially if you speak Spanish]
Steve