<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9538544#post9538544 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by DaveJ
First off.. I happen to agree with most of your approach as being some of the better choices. Its called being a responsible hobbyist.
I also agree that the question of it being ethical will be based upon ones own set of moral values and perspective. I don't see it as unethical in the slightest... but others may disagree, PITA for example.
Problem is... even aquacultured species etc are tainted. They all originated in the wild at some point. Sure its less of a drain on the wild populations to go that route, but ultimately the ethics boil down to at some point in time, something was taken out of its natural habitat and put into production for our benefit.
Collecting in the wild is no different that aquaculturing, if its done responsibly. After all, the corals you see in stores are nothing but frags from a wild colony that started to grow back almost immediately after being fragged by the collector. Provided the collector left some behind and removed it in a manner that didn't kill the colony that is....... And there is the crux of the problem. There are very few truly transparent supply chains in this industry. Walt Smith is one of them.... and I am sure there are others but they are not all like that. So aquaculture is not more or less ethical, it is the same. BUT.. it is the better alternative and much easier on wild populations.
Finally... remember that there will always be a 'pirate' element to this industry, but it is vastly improved from what it once was. Suppliers and collectors are learning that if they kill the golden goose, those eggs stop coming. As a result, collection techniques are improving and the impact on the wild colonies and populations is not nearly as bad as it once was. Its still not perfect, but it never will be.
You don't have to be as hardcore as "PITA" (MMMMM, Pitas
) to realize this is a detsructive hobby. Unethical or not, not matter how much I love this hobby, we're contributing to the destruction of coral reefs. It's funny because most people here keep reef aquariums because they love the natural reefs, yet we are contributing to their demise.
Sure, even aquacultured corals had to originate in nature at some point, but the idea is that we're taking less from nature and helping to sustain our own "consumption". For that reason, collecting from the wild is absolutely different from aquaculture, even when done responsibly. I guarantee you there aren't many (if any) collectors out there fragging things from the reef. You saying aquaculture "is the better alternative and much easier on wild populations" completely disputes you saying "aquaculture is not more or less ethical'. Also I believe you are confusing aquaculture with mariculture.
The industry may be improved somewhat in their collection practices, but the shear number of hobbyists today probably outweighs better collection practices by a wide margin. Also, many places that have supplied the hobby have had no choice but to modify their practices. It wasn't because of ethics, it was because of ecomonics. The Phillipines taught some other areas a valuable lesson. If they are too greedy and aggressive with their collection, there will no longer be anything to collect. The ornamental marine fish industry is a good source of income the poor nations near coral reefs. For that very reason there will always be poor collection practices and I don't think it's as "pirate" as most would like to think.
Have you ever tried to catch a fish in a reef tank with a net? Now turn that reef tank into a natural reef in an ocean and picture yourself awkwardly flopping around in the water trying to catch a fish with a net... Not just any fish, but a fish that you know will make you money. Then consider that you're struggling to make enough money for you and your family to survive. Lastly, consider that a little bleach or cyanide could catch you many fish in the same amount of time that it took you to catch one with a net.
Even in Hawaii where you'd think the industry would be a little more aware and "ethical" people are caught using bleach and other chemical methods to catch fish. The wealth in Hawaii compared to most other areas of collection is enormous, as is the regulation of collection. However, the regulation is still pitiful and policing collection of ornamental fish is a very difficult thing to do. In other words, for every person caught using a chemical to collect, there are several that don't get caught.
Just remember, even people like Walt Smith which you claim to be more ethical are in this industry to make money. The amount of live rock alone that he ships is enormous and I have little doubt that he's taking it out faster than nature can produce it. He's also reported to be a major source of what is often called boat rock. Whether this is slander by the competition or is truth I'm not sure.
I think I already said this, but I'll say it again... This hobby is so much bigger than it once was, despite efforts to mariculture and aquaculture, I would bet our impact on the reefs is far greater than it has ever been. Also keep in mind that it wasn't until fairly recently that it was common to keep reef building corals as opposed to Euphyllia for instance.
Go diving at some of the "reefs" around the Phillipines, go diving in Hawaii now if you did so 15 years ago. It's very easy to see the impact our hobby has made on wild populations. Some studies indicate that wild populations of common fish in this hobby have been cut in half in a very short period of time. The ramifications from the impact are yet to be seen and understood. There are many other factors contributing to the destruction of coral reefs besides this hobby. Overfishing in general is a big problem and I'm not aware of this hobby directly resulting in threatening a species. But then remember that a 1 year survival rate of 50% is probably very generous when it comes to wild fish and corals, I fear that it's more like 10%. When you really sit back and think about it, it's impossible to feel good about this hobby as a whole from a conservation standpoint.
I don't want anyone to think I'm laying some guilt trip and blasting this hobby. I've been a part of it for a very long time so I'm no different from a lot of you. I do however want people to consider what I've said and be a little more responsible with their livestock and decisions to purchase livestock.
