This is why I try not to get fish sourced from Indonesia or the Phillipines
What countries of origin are ideal for wild caught?
Australia and the Red Sea are both great. Hawaii origin fish are also very good. Most African sourced fish are caught responsibly. Mauritius fish are "African origin" and they certainly don't catch Zebra or Gem tangs with cyanide. Most all fish that are caught with cyanide die before they ever make it to the end user, with the exception of Naso tangs
Naso Tangs?
Why do they live and not the others?
Australia and the Red Sea are both great. Hawaii origin fish are also very good. Most African sourced fish are caught responsibly. Mauritius fish are "African origin" and they certainly don't catch Zebra or Gem tangs with cyanide. Most all fish that are caught with cyanide die before they ever make it to the end user, with the exception of Naso tangs
Right well some fish only come from these places so it's hard to say the come from some Place else when they only occur in said place. Ie Red Sea Regal, Semilavartus ect... Same can be said about Zebra and Gem tangs
Always go with captive bred if it's an option. Not only are you reducing over fishing stresses on the species, but a captive bred species will typically be healther, less likely to have any sort of parasites, far more adaptable at eating non-live foods, and typically live a longer life span.
One such example would by buying a wild caught seahourse vs. a captive bred. Wild caught SH usually will carry a bacteria (vibrio) and some other parasites. When caught and/or introduced into one of our tanks, they get really stressed and the infection reveals itself. In addition, the wild caught SH will only take live foods. Which is an expensive undertaking. Lastly, the chances of it living for any decent length of time is low.
However, if you bought a captive bred SH, you're most likely getting a health specimen. It'll eat frozen with gusto, and live quite a few years under the proper care.
A bit of an extreme example, but one of which clearly illustrates the benefits of captive bred.
Ok people, let's try not to bash poorly educated people here. Yes, cyanide fishing occurs in the Philippines. However, does that mean that we should blame the people who ONLY KNOW HOW to fish with cyanide? If they were taught to harvest fish with different capture techniques that aren't ultimately fatal to the fish, and paid a higher amount of money for non-cyanide captured fish, that is a very real source that the people can use in their lives. Disclaimer: my parents are from the Philippines, so I feel that their country, and by association, my country, should at least be given a chance.
With regards to the ideas of the original question, I think that both wild caught and captive bred fish have roles in the hobby. Very few beginners should be given most wild caught fish that can easily be captive bred in the hobby (dottybacks, clowns, cardinals, etc.). In some cases, it should be ONLY captive-bred fish that should be sold in the hobby (such as the Banggai Cardinalfish). However, by bringing in WC fish, additional genetic material can be introduced into breeding lines. I have high hopes that the saltwater side of the hobby will eventually copy that of the freshwater side, with CB fish replacing their WC cousins. But I also acknowledge that some fish will never truly be CB, such as yellow tangs, cardinal tetras, and other fish.
I heard that Cardinal Tetras can be Captive Bred
Why do you say that Yellow Tangs will Never be Captive Bred?
They Bred some Blue Hippo Tangs in Japan.