Coral Bank proposal

[DracoFalcon]

Hey guys, this is an idea that hit me the other day and the more I research, the more it seems possible to pull off. Just looking for some input as to whether it would be feasible to pursue.

The idea is to start a non-profit organization that is a regional/national coral bank and zero impact aquaculture facility within the Montgomery Zoo's Mann Museum. The purpose of the Mann Museum is wildlife preservation through education. They have plenty of unused space within it and what they do have is taxidermy, that once you've seen you're probably not going to pay to see again. Now, what if there was a fully functioning fish breeder operation and coral bank with workshops on coral fragging, aragocrete rock making. DIY aquariums and lighting systems? The focus on breeding could be clownfishes, cardinals, and seahorses. Kids would love seeing all the Nemos and seahorses and want to visit the museum repeatedly and at the same time drawing their parents into the hobby. I've researched NPOs and many upstarts have what is called a Fiscal Sponsor which is another NPO whose goals fall in line with the upstart's. The Fiscal Sponsor acts as the umbrella for the baby NPO until it stands alone. Just the retail possibilities for the Zoo alone could be huge- stuffed clownfish, seahorses, t-shirts...

Give me some input.

 

[Darkhorse]

Worked there for 10.5 years. They wouldn't put anyone remotely qualified to take care of guppies over that stuff. We had a 280g reef donated and couldn't get the interest in management to spend any money on the tank, even with Tony offering to take care of it on his time. Good luck, more power to you if you can pull it off.

 

[malnurs]

i think it's a great idea but like darkhorse said if they dont like it or dont have the experienced handlers/breeders it will won't fly. have you thought about getting an different nonprofit aquaculture place like GARF to possibly sponsor or something like that. i have no ideaif they or anyone else could do something like that but it's worth asking or looking into.

 

[DracoFalcon]

Darkhorse- how long has it been since you worked there?

I think that a separate entity within the Mann museum could support it self. It would just be nice to be in a public place, to have the ties to the zoo. Maybe, pay monthly fees to the zoo? I dunno how it would work if the Zoo had no interest at all, nor could I imagine why they wouldn't.

 

[malnurs]

i know people would go to it. i would go every chance i had. i know all of us probably would haha. (someone's addicted lol) but that's why places like georgia aquarium, etc. are so popular. because they are so cool. and for kids to be able to go see baby nemos. that place would be packed lol.

 

[Darkhorse]

I haven't worked there in 4 years. But still have a close friend that has hung on out there. They are not conservation minded at all. It is strictly an ooh/ahh factor. Your idea of a "bank" is such a foreign concept in their way of thinking, it is hard to try to get people that haven't worked in the zoo field to understand that there are those that think like that in the actual zoo field. Far too many unfortunately. The idea is fantastic to me and if I was out there I would eagerly work that area, but unless it is an interesting or worthwhile idea to the director, you can hang it up. Or would look good to others. And with so many reefers out there importing and cultivating corals and related entities that there isn't a real draw for a zoo to go down that road. They tend to lean toward the "you can't have it and we can road". We all can get most any coral, for a price. On a different side the USDA maintains collections of plants at different locations. I am a member of the American Bamboo Society and our regional club helps manage their collection as well as the UGA collection in Savannah. That might be a more realistic angle to approach since their intentions are exactly what your goal is. Research and distribution.
my 2 cents

 

[Bryzoan]

These guys had a booth at MACNA XX. Very neat initiative they are taking. A "national coral bank." Go to www.asaquaculture.org.

 

[malnurs]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13419721#post13419721 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bryzoan
These guys had a booth at MACNA XX. Very neat initiative they are taking. A "national coral bank." Go to www.asaquaculture.org.

i wasn't able to get the site to come could you repost again please thanks

 

[Bryzoan]

Yep, something is definately wrong with their link. I did a google search on "Applied Sustainable Aquaculture, ASA", and you can find few mentionings. According to their brochure, they are a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. They have partnered with the Science & Technology Magnet High School of Southeastern Connecticut, and are going to be doing the design, install and maintenance of their reef, freshwater and estuary systems. "In partenership with STMHS, we will be networking with businesses, schools, hobbyists and public institutions to lay the foundations of a national coral bank. This bank will strive to hold an exhaustive collection of marine fish, coral and invertebrates and make those organisims available to academics, the aquaculture industry and in the future, will assist in restocking the reefs."

Hopefully their link will be working soon!

 

[TOYTEK]

link works for me