As someone just getting into this hobby, I'm very concerned, both for the environment and from the stamping of the hobby and the jobs involved. It's about control, they just want to own you.This is a huge cause for alarm in the hobby.
Once a species gets listed as threatened, or endangered, they can outlaw ALL trade in that species. It doesn't matter if that species is grown in captivity or not.
This raises some serious questions for our hobby.
Am I forced to euthanize the Ephyllia that's outgrowing my tank?
What happens to companies like ORA, or all the small "Mom and Pop" coral farmers around the country? Take away one or two of their big money makers, and this could force them out of business. Crippling these companies could increase pressure on other wild species like anemonefish, or corals that haven't made it on the list yet, but were once propagated by these companies.
I think we can all see that our coral reefs are in trouble, and most of us believe we need to do something. This isn't the answer though. It has been shown over, and over, and over again that through proper management, we can have the best of both worlds. Australia is a great example of this. By limiting the areas of collection, and the numbers being collect, Australia is able to utilize their natural resources to help feed their people, without raping the environment in the process.
Just my two cents
EC
and here is a link to comment. It will take you all of 5 minutes.
http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=NOAA-NMFS-2010-0036-0469
Careful, the mods BANNED the other posters who started threads re. this topic.
Not sure why they are censoring this?
If it were that easy to get banned, I would have been banned loooong ago.Careful, the mods BANNED the other posters who started threads re. this topic.
Not sure why they are censoring this?
Since when is it a right to own coral? I love the hobby as much as the next guy, but come on, it's not even close to being a right. Let's keep things in perspective. Even if this law passes, it won't be the end of the hobby.I hate to be the pessimist but I think this kind of thing is going on all over. They are taking ever ones rights away one at a time.
Would we be years behind? Has our hobby really helped the ACTUAL coral reefs? I'm honestly asking. I personally don't think it has done much, but I hope I'm wrong.Please submit your comments about all we have done for the science and understanding of coral reefs. Without us they would be YEARS behind.
Since when is it a right to own coral? I love the hobby as much as the next guy, but come on, it's not even close to being a right. Let's keep things in perspective. Even if this law passes, it won't be the end of the hobby.
The problem, as I see it, is all coral started in the ocean. It's not like we've ever found a frag while walking through the forest.
Chop-shopping wild corals, into frags that are then sold as aquacultured happens all the time. It's an undeniable fact that coral populations, world wide, are in decline. At the end of the day I'd rather be able to show coral, living in the ocean, to my grand kids than fight for my "right" to have it in my tank now. NOAA isn't attacking hobbyists, they're trying to protect something that has no voice of its own.
The problem, as I see it, is all coral started in the ocean. It's not like we've ever found a frag while walking through the forest.
Chop-shopping wild corals, into frags that are then sold as aquacultured happens all the time. It's an undeniable fact that coral populations, world wide, are in decline. At the end of the day I'd rather be able to show coral, living in the ocean, to my grand kids than fight for my "right" to have it in my tank now. NOAA isn't attacking hobbyists, they're trying to protect something that has no voice of its own.
Would we be years behind? Has our hobby really helped the ACTUAL coral reefs? I'm honestly asking. I personally don't think it has done much, but I hope I'm wrong.
I have no issues with severely limiting or even banning the import of wild collected corals, though I don't think collection actually has a measurable impact compared to environmental damage or bleaching corals for curios, but I believe that aquacultured corals are a different story entirely.
One of the things that happens with such listing is effects beyond just collecting...such listing can impact a variety of environmental concerns such as dredging projects, land based projects that could have run off, etc. The biggest issue where the hobby is concerned, IMO, is how already captive and cultured listed corals will be treated.