I have not doubts that hundreds of collectors were well trained. As I have said before, and in many occasions, you did a good job while in the Ph (many years ago). Filipino collectors are the best in the world, they have been training collectors not only in the Philippines but also in other developing countries. However, the industry in the Philippines has not recompensed their willingness and commitment to use environmentally friendly methods when collecting fish. Fish collectors in the Philippines have been sending clear signs to the industry, but this industry has not reacted.
To the lack of willingness and commitment of the central governments in Ph and In, we have to add the lack of willingness and commitment of the industry itself. The demand from hobbyists and retailers has been the same, they're looking for cheap fish. the Ph and Ind are supplying the industry with at least 65%-70% of those cheap fish. Issues as fish quality and collection methods haven't been a priority, neither has been a priority the wellbeing of poor fish collectors, meanwhile the coral reefs are being overexploited by collectors who have to collect as many fish as possible to satisfy their families needs. They do have to travel farther away from their homes looking for new grounds where they could find fish. They go away from their families for extended periods of time, this, has negative consequences on the social structure of the communities.
Economic incentives to collectors by the industry along with small scale social programs implemented by the central goverments in the Ph and In are essential to solve this environmental problem.
Without willingness and commitment from both sides(industry and central governments) the status quo will prevail with serious consequences for the coral reefs.
I have had the opportunity to work with the different levels of the trade from the collector to the aquarium hobbyists in North America, more specifically in Canada. I was involved during many years working with a Canadian NGO helping to find solutions to the cyanide problem in the Philippines. I have not been in Indonesia, but according to people that have been there and know the situation in both countries, they have stated that the cyanide problem, handling and holding in Indonesia are worse.
Since the early 80's issues as collection, handling and holding as well as unsuitability of some species has been denounced... but the industry has done "almost" nothing. We are still talking about cyanide use which is being used not only in the Ph and In but also in other developing countries where regulation and law enforcement do not exist. We also know that very little has been done to tackle handling, holding at community level (majority of collection communities), and we see that the industry is offering to hobbyists fish that do not survive in captivity.
More than 25 years hopping that things are going to change. Many conferences, speakers, and "experts" talking about issues related to the industry and its impact on coral reefs... but little change.
In the Philippines fish collectors are poorer than they were 25 years ago and coral reefs are in worse shape than then. Fishing grounds have been overexploited and some species are not found were once abundant.
Personally, I do not think that the status quo is an option. I'd rather to see something radical happening in the Philippines and Indonesia.
