There is so much proof from both Hawaii and Florida that if you protect about 10% of the breeding grounds of fish the population can be sustained by fishermen of any type. In Hawaii the population of all of the tropical fish are stable or growing, this is documented in yellow tangs and potters angels by the DNR and scientists. In Florida both naso groupers and goliath groupers were considered endangered but in 3 years of protecting the breeding grounds from fishermen they are now so common they are going to open seasons on goliath groupers if not both species.
The main cause of fish decline is habitat damage and putting a season or a ban on tropicals will not stop this. It is totally perception that the aquarium industry is the cause of fish decline at least here in the U.S.A., other countries where reef conservation is not even a concern have their own sets of problems with reef damage but it is becoming more and more apparent and steps are being taken to protect even reefs where it was common to use chemicals or destroy reefs to collect.
The main thing that should be the first question but I haven't heard from any response is if the state can ban the collection how long will it be before they will ban the hobby? Here in California there is a proposal to ban all pets in the city of San Francisco, and it is gaining in support from the people. The ban on dogs and cats passed but was put on hold so they could add birds, since then it now is to include all animals including fish.
Here is a link to the article in the LA Times by Maria L. La Ganga
http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jun/26/local/la-me-goldfish-20110627
This is a direct quote from the article
"Why fish? Why not fish?" said Philip Gerrie, a member of the city's Commission of Animal Control and Welfare and a coauthor of the proposal. "From Descartes on up, in the Western mindset, fish and other nonhuman animals don't have feelings, they don't have emotions, we can do whatever we want to them. If we considered them living beings, we would deal with them differently."¦ Our culture sanctions this, treating them as commodities and expendable."
Another thing that happened although I can't remember the exact state or circumstances is a woman was arrested and charged with animal cruelty for killing a pet rodent. How many rodents are killed to be fed as feeders to reptile owners? If she pleads guilty or is found guilty how long will it be before poisoning or killing a rat in your attic becomes a crime? These laws are based on emotions and not supported by statistics or reason in most cases and to just laugh it off or ignore it is a serious mistake even if you think it doesn't affect you, it very well may affect you in the future.
, all sport fishing, etc. I'll boycott pineapples, macadamia nuts, and Don Ho CDs.
