Should we import Coral?

[needyreefer]

I'm doing a persuasive essay on a social issue for a school English project, and was wondering what everybody thought about the importation of coral. I'm still deciding which way I want to go for the essay, but was leaning towards going against the imporation of coral as it will probably be easier to write. Do you guys have any ideas or suggestions on some topics that I can use for the essay? Thanks for any help

 

[Travis L. Stevens]

Unless it's too late, it might be easier to write about coral importation regulation, and not importing in general. There are two sides that are easy to write about. Free Trade on Corals and Regulated Trade on Corals. One argument for regulated trade could be Aquaculture: Advances and Need and an argument for Free Trade on Corals can be Economics: Tourism, Commercialism, and Money for Other Countries. It's just a suggestion. It sounds easier to me.

 

[Thales]

Exportation is good for island nations. It can get them to value the reefs for what they are, harvest from them sustainably, and make them money.

 

[shrug1013]

I agree with lefty

 

[Ti]

yes

 

[toothman]

If you look at a lot of the coral in the aquarium trade, a large portion is aquacultured in Fiji, Walt Smith is a extremely large exporter of cultured coral. Small pieces are also traded among hobbyists called frags, of more desirable pieces.

One point is that harvesting wild coral destroys the reef, it may be true. But it may also be feeding a small village from the proceeds from the sale of wild specimens.

 

[Timbor]

Yes, collecting coral can harm the reef if done in an unsustainable manner.
But think of the other side. What will the ornamental collectors do without corals/fish to trade for the marine hobby? Food fishing? Dynamite fishing? Cutting down tropical forests to sell them as chipboard or lumber? Farming on top of the cut forests so that they cannot regrow?

If done sustainably, harvesting corals can be a completely renewable resource. Many species can be collected and/or cultured without hardly any collateral damage to the reef, and many species will grow back very quickly.
Check out the marine aquarium council, http://www.aquariumcouncil.org/
They are working on a certification scheme that will help ensure a sustainable hobby, from reef to aquarium.

One final thought: people tend to protect what they love. People can only love something that they have known and experienced. How will the coral reefs be protected if they are not known and loved? For most who know and love them, it is probably from exposure to an aquarium... we can't all afford to go diving on a reef!

HTH,

Tim

 

[ERICinFL]

I also agree with lefty. You may compare it to what Africa did with elephants. Africa allowed tribes in certain areas to allow hunting permits for elephants. The tribes control who get's the permits and who doesn't. By doing this, the tribes work hard to ensure elephant populations are at healthy levels and they monitor and enforce poaching laws vigorously. By allowing island nations to harvest and export their corals, they'll be more likely to maintain their reefs and ensure they are not over harvested. Good luck with your paper.