Quality Animals from Quality Supply lines

[DFS]

I feel strongly about purchasing quality animals from quality suppliers, and the chain of custody plays a major role in the health and well being of the marine life available for sale today. When working with experienced suppliers and importers/wholesalers that understand themselves the less a fish is transported, handled, bagged, shipped, and acclimated into different environments, the better chances these animals will do once they pass into the hands of the educated hobbyist.

One thing that is overlooked these days is the chain of custody overseas, and how this has a major impact on the overall health of fish offered in the marine ornamentals trade. Most fish change hands far too many times and held in less than ideal conditions for days or weeks before they even see an export station. Some of these fish from certain areas of the world can be bouncing up and down on a ship for well over a week at sea before they even hit land. Once there hopefully they are screened, held, and then packaged properly before export. This very long chain of custody is the reason there is so much inconsistency in the quality of animals offered in the hobby today. These fish often come with a cheap price tag for a reason. There are far too many places these days competing with the same fish, and using price as their competitive edge.

There are numerous companies across the US, both on the brick and mortar retail side and internet/etail side, that have a thorough understanding of the supply chain of custody, and differences between the network of supply lines around the world, impacts the quality and consistency of the animals offered for sale. Here at Drs. Foster and Smith/LiveAquaria.com we recognized this fact long ago, and chose to utilize importers and wholesalers that offer a superior quality animal.

Importers such as Quality Marine were instrumental in building their company on this very principal. Quality Marine is one of the oldest, most well established importers/wholesalers in the United States. They are the only company I know of that has developed exclusive supply lines from more areas around the world with short chains of custody. These fish are hands down superior in quality and consistency. Fiji is one such area where QM’s exclusive supply line is owned and operated by one of the most experienced collectors in the marine ornamentals trade. This station employs skilled, well-trained divers that harvest responsibly, don’t cut corners, and know how to properly handle and ship marine animals. The collection areas utilized at this station in Fiji are in very close proximity to where the fish are held, so the animals are sitting in a modern holding system, with filtered water within hours of being harvested. To me, having the ability to offer a superior product to customers, and knowing the facts about how the fish got here is worth a little more as far as cost is concerned to me.

I would encourage everyone here on RC to try and seek out places that offer something more than price as their strategic advantage. The marine aquarium industry is changing rapidly, right in front of our eyes, and our buying habits have a major influence on the quality of the animals available today.

Regards,
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith

 

[aquaticvet1]

I think Kevin has made some very important points here. If consumers demand quality, then the industry will conform. The hobby is fortunate to have choices for livestock. Many of you have excellent local fish stores, by all means support them. Historically, they have been the backbone of the hobby. Additionally, there are several quality internet sites who are sponsors right here on ReefCentral.
No matter who you choose to purchase from, I would suggest you ask about the trail of distribution for your specimens. As Kevin pointed out, look for a quality and reliable supply chain. I would also ask for a guarantee to go along with your purchase. That helps demand quality. It is a fact that many fish and coral which make the long journey are poor in quality and health. Buying these specimens is planning for failure and disappointment.

As we are dealing with live animals, no one source will achieve perfection. No matter where you purchase, there will always be disease and risk possibilities. Beginning with a quality supply, you can minimize that risk.

Kevin is correct in that the industry is going through a change. As a consumer, you can help decide the direction.

Race

 

[theclearblue]

Race,

I appreciate both of your comments, and I do respect what Live Aquaria has been doing to minimize death in livestock throughout the chain of custody.

You're asking hobbyists to exercise responsibility in livestock purchasing, and I think it's only fair that we ask you to do the same. Given the precarious state of Bangaii cardinals in the wild, I do wonder why wild caught Bangaii's are still available for purchase through Live Aquaria. (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+26+82&pcatid=82)

Granted, captive breeding may not be able to meet demand at present, but continuing to sell wild caught bangaii's isn't helping.

I'll do my part if you'll do yours.

 

[aquaticvet1]

Perhaps Kevin can enlighten us more.

In this thread I am not asking the hobby to exercise responsibility but rather helping them spend their money wisely on healthy specimens. It is their choice to purchase the species of legal livestock as they see fit. I am not the law, nor do I enforce it, I am a veterinarian promoting animal health. As far as to which wild species should be harvested, I would suggest you contact The US Department of Fish and Wildlife and voice your opinion. They are better educated on the subject than me and they make the law.

This is a paid forum and a place for us to communicate with our customers. This thread is about animal health and locating sources for healthy specimens. It is not about which species should be allowed to be imported into the United States.

Thank you, Race

 

[DFS]

theclearblue wrote:

You're asking hobbyists to exercise responsibility in livestock purchasing, and I think it's only fair that we ask you to do the same. Given the precarious state of Bangaii cardinals in the wild, I do wonder why wild caught Bangaii's are still available for purchase through Live Aquaria. (http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/...26+82&pcatid=82)

theclearblue,

Thank you for your comments. Banggai Cardinals (Pterapogon kauderni) are successfully bred and reared in captivity both in the US by companies such as ORA (Oceans Reefs and Aquariums) as well as overseas in Asia by a handful of companies. Drs. Foster and Smith offers these Tank Bred Banggai Cardinals as a great alternative to help reduce some of the pressures on this fish in its native habitat. The biggest constraint at this time is the limited supply of captive reared fish. Hopefully in the coming year we will see an every greater supply of these incredibly hardy fish being offered from hatcheries and farms around the world.

I think that it is very important for everyone to understand some issues surrounding Banggai Cardinals (Pterapogon kauderni). It was proposed last year that this species should be considered and listed as an Appendix II CITES animal. Animals listed as Appendix II CITES are traded and offered for sale from exporting countries after the proper permit or certificate is granted by the fisheries department or relevant authority in that country. This listing by CITES to regulate the harvest and trade of these animals is done so to ensure that the long term survival of the species in their native habitat is not threatened by overexploitation. For reference ALL hard corals available in the marine aquarium trade and seahorses not harvested in the US are regulated, monitored and are listed as Appendix II CITES.

This proposal was declined and these fish were NOT placed on Appendix II CITES as it was determined by doing so would hinder national management efforts, and have a negative socioeconomic impact on the local communities.

Hopefully everyone here understands that sustainably fishing our reefs for food fish and marine ornamentals provides sustenance for hundreds of thousands of people around the world. Mothers and fathers who have no other means of making a living are able to put food on the tables for their children by harvesting from the ocean.

Fortunately there are groups on the private and public sector in Indonesia working with the local communities on implementing sustainable management plans for these fish. Right now the focus is on reducing post harvest and transport mortality, where in my opinion, is a key area that needs to be focused on.

Banggai Cardinals are a great example of one species of fish that ties directly in with the subject of this thread: "Quality Animals from Quality Suppliers". Wild Banggai Cardinals are available from every major importer/wholesaler here in the US on a weekly basis. We choose to purchase these fish from Quality Marine who shares our concerns and understands the issues surrounding these fish. By working closely with the exporter who pays the fishermen well for this fish is one way to ensure that this animal is sustainably harvested due to a premium price point. Furthermore, dictating a safe quantity per box when shipping these fish from Indo to the US cuts mortality through the chain of custody and yields a better quality fish for the hobbyist.

In my opinion, one of the things we can do as concerned hobbyists is to financially incentivize the people who feed their families and are able to make a living from coral reefs, so they will manage and protect their own resource in their own community. This once again, this boils down to paying a little more for fish is worth it to me from a sustainability standpoint and quality standpoint.

Sincerely,
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith