Here is my post that started this thread.
Posted: 19 May 2006 19:01 Post subject: Preservation Of Our Industry: What we need to do
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Reefcheck/MAC/CCIF has shown us the progress that is being made in the Philippines. Their contributions to conservation are admirable.
....setting up sustainable areas
....weaning fishers off cyanide by training
But here are a few things that we can do which do not require an investment of money and therefore should be a first choice in conserving the limited marine resources left.
!. We can refuse to buy species unsuitable and define a list of them.
cleaner wrasse, moorish idol, dendro all which have specific unknown requirements. Cleaner wrasse should be left in the ocean doing the good job them do thus increasing healthy fish coming to our industry..
Lets do our part and start this list now.
2 We can refuse to buy large breeding species which are extremely difficult to get to acclimatize. By leaving fish such as all of the larger angels we assist the yield of small new ones which have a much much better chance of survival.
3. We can refuse to buyf those fish, inverts and coral which can be propagated. Why do we continue to import many large angels when larval raised angels are available. Why do we import many species of clowns when they are readily available?
In the above examples existing legislation can be used if all industry does not get together and come to an agreement.
For example there is legislation prohibiting small crab, lobsters and some food fish from being caught. Add maximum size limits on angels and similar species so there is a level playing field for everyone
The resounding answer from industry can be summarized as follows.
1. It is the hobbyists responsibility not industry to educate themselves to stop the totally needless plunder of fish and coral that industry knows has no possiblity of success in all but an experts tank.
2. There is total silence on the part of industry to stop the import of large breeding species like mature angels that have been virtually wiped out even though by removing these breeders there is less supply of wild fish.
This silence is even more astounding when industry knows that these mature fish are very difficult to acclimate and get to eat even in LFS tanks let alone hobbyist tanks.
3. Even though there is an ample supply of larval raised fish, industry continues to ignore this supply in favour of cheap wild caught fish.
Our lowly freshwater colleagues have learned that this attitude is not sustainable decades ago.
I am called for industry to take immediate steps to implement the three suggestions put forward before it is faced with the government doing it for you.
Posted: 19 May 2006 19:01 Post subject: Preservation Of Our Industry: What we need to do
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reefcheck/MAC/CCIF has shown us the progress that is being made in the Philippines. Their contributions to conservation are admirable.
....setting up sustainable areas
....weaning fishers off cyanide by training
But here are a few things that we can do which do not require an investment of money and therefore should be a first choice in conserving the limited marine resources left.
!. We can refuse to buy species unsuitable and define a list of them.
cleaner wrasse, moorish idol, dendro all which have specific unknown requirements. Cleaner wrasse should be left in the ocean doing the good job them do thus increasing healthy fish coming to our industry..
Lets do our part and start this list now.
2 We can refuse to buy large breeding species which are extremely difficult to get to acclimatize. By leaving fish such as all of the larger angels we assist the yield of small new ones which have a much much better chance of survival.
3. We can refuse to buyf those fish, inverts and coral which can be propagated. Why do we continue to import many large angels when larval raised angels are available. Why do we import many species of clowns when they are readily available?
In the above examples existing legislation can be used if all industry does not get together and come to an agreement.
For example there is legislation prohibiting small crab, lobsters and some food fish from being caught. Add maximum size limits on angels and similar species so there is a level playing field for everyone
The resounding answer from industry can be summarized as follows.
1. It is the hobbyists responsibility not industry to educate themselves to stop the totally needless plunder of fish and coral that industry knows has no possiblity of success in all but an experts tank.
2. There is total silence on the part of industry to stop the import of large breeding species like mature angels that have been virtually wiped out even though by removing these breeders there is less supply of wild fish.
This silence is even more astounding when industry knows that these mature fish are very difficult to acclimate and get to eat even in LFS tanks let alone hobbyist tanks.
3. Even though there is an ample supply of larval raised fish, industry continues to ignore this supply in favour of cheap wild caught fish.
Our lowly freshwater colleagues have learned that this attitude is not sustainable decades ago.
I am called for industry to take immediate steps to implement the three suggestions put forward before it is faced with the government doing it for you.