Several years ago (at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Bali, Indonesia). I met Dr. Lovell a biologist in Fiji who had done a study for Walt Smith that indicated that live rock harvest could be done sustainably. Or so he claimed. But, he never sent me a copy of the report. In any event, that did not factor in the huge die-off of corals (and maybe live rock?) that occurred due to the El Nino event in late 1998. A recent survey by the Bishop Museum staff for the government of Fiji (earlier this year) reported to the government of Fiji that the wild harvest of live rock and corals was unsustainable (partly due to the fact that less heathy reef now exists).
I have seen Walt Smith's film about how his firm collects corals from the wild to return them to his facility where biologists treat each animal with surgical precision. I also viewed how his company has pioneered the creation of artificial base rock, which is put out on the reef and later harvested as artificial live rock. The film also describes farming corals from frags grown out on reef areas. I fully endorse the latter approaches. Indeed, the IMA has two coral farms in the Philippines, where we teach Filipinos some of the same techniques (for rearing coral from frags and growing out hatchery-produced giant clams). I have a paper that describes these approachs titled "Territorial Use Rights In Fisheries To Manage Areas For Farming Coral Reef Fish And Invertebrates For The Aquarium Trade" Aquarium Sciences and Consevation 3: 119-134 (2001). Those of you who emailed me to request the Cyanide-Free Net-Caught ..paper will also receive the TURFs paper just cited. Anyone else interested in obtaining a copy should send me an email ([email protected])
While, the IMA does not claim to have invented any of these techniques (for culturing coral frags, live rock, and giant clams) we do believe they are preferable to wild harvest. They provide income to villagers and do not pollute/harm the environment. What is to some degree unique is my insistence that the communities or local governments control the allocation of space (TURFs) for mariculture and/or fisheries.
This is consistent with new laws that decentralized fisheries management in the Philippines. The Fisheries Act of 1998 places management at the municipal level. The creation of Collection Area Management Plans (CAMPs) advocated by the MAC is an example of TURFs approved by the municipality (usually through a management council) for fish collection and potentially for farming reef invertebrates. I have another paper coming out soon that depicts how the IMA has been using geographic information systems (GIS) to map coastal habitats to support informed decision-making about the allocation of space for fishing areas, and sites for mariculture.
Basically, Walt has the right ideas and is ahead of the curve. If a ban on coral collection or live rock harvest from the wild occurs in Fiji; he may be able to continue through export of cultured organisms provided from waters managed by local villagers. The government of Fiji should allow farmed invertebrates to be exported. Mike King is leading the way in promoting similar ideas in other countries like Western Samoa. So there is hope that the trade will continue and that coral reefs can be protected.
Peter Rubec
International Marinelife Alliance
I have seen Walt Smith's film about how his firm collects corals from the wild to return them to his facility where biologists treat each animal with surgical precision. I also viewed how his company has pioneered the creation of artificial base rock, which is put out on the reef and later harvested as artificial live rock. The film also describes farming corals from frags grown out on reef areas. I fully endorse the latter approaches. Indeed, the IMA has two coral farms in the Philippines, where we teach Filipinos some of the same techniques (for rearing coral from frags and growing out hatchery-produced giant clams). I have a paper that describes these approachs titled "Territorial Use Rights In Fisheries To Manage Areas For Farming Coral Reef Fish And Invertebrates For The Aquarium Trade" Aquarium Sciences and Consevation 3: 119-134 (2001). Those of you who emailed me to request the Cyanide-Free Net-Caught ..paper will also receive the TURFs paper just cited. Anyone else interested in obtaining a copy should send me an email ([email protected])
While, the IMA does not claim to have invented any of these techniques (for culturing coral frags, live rock, and giant clams) we do believe they are preferable to wild harvest. They provide income to villagers and do not pollute/harm the environment. What is to some degree unique is my insistence that the communities or local governments control the allocation of space (TURFs) for mariculture and/or fisheries.
This is consistent with new laws that decentralized fisheries management in the Philippines. The Fisheries Act of 1998 places management at the municipal level. The creation of Collection Area Management Plans (CAMPs) advocated by the MAC is an example of TURFs approved by the municipality (usually through a management council) for fish collection and potentially for farming reef invertebrates. I have another paper coming out soon that depicts how the IMA has been using geographic information systems (GIS) to map coastal habitats to support informed decision-making about the allocation of space for fishing areas, and sites for mariculture.
Basically, Walt has the right ideas and is ahead of the curve. If a ban on coral collection or live rock harvest from the wild occurs in Fiji; he may be able to continue through export of cultured organisms provided from waters managed by local villagers. The government of Fiji should allow farmed invertebrates to be exported. Mike King is leading the way in promoting similar ideas in other countries like Western Samoa. So there is hope that the trade will continue and that coral reefs can be protected.
Peter Rubec
International Marinelife Alliance
