Ahhh yes, Fin Mike, I can see you have no structural argument to make so you run back in circles. It's also obvious your not a lawyer. The burden of proof doesn't belong to me, I'm not the person claiming that if you take a fish out of it's natural habitat that I can give it better living conditions and a longer life. The burden of proof is with you, your the one claiming that fish live in better circumstances and longer lives in captivity. So prove it! There's is absolutely no data to support your argument. However, since I'm so generous I pulled a few things.
Here's an article by Dr. Amy Wolff
http://www.petplace.com/fish/top-20-saltwater-fish/page1.aspx I don't need to read the article for you but it's safe to say that the average life of a fish in captivity is 2-4 years. Need I say more? Your digging yourself a giant whole here and your not getting out. So I'll give you a chance to admit you were wrong. It's okay, we are all wrong at some points in our life.
Next I went to Fishlore . com and I pulled a few random fish/Common fish sold in the hobby.
1. Purple Tang
http://www.fishlore.com/profile-purpletang.htm
2. Clown Tang
http://www.fishlore.com/profile-clowntang.htm Are you starting to notice a difference between the life expectancy's?
3. Niger Trigger
http://www.fishlore.com/profile-niger-triggerfish.htm
4. Foxface
http://www.fishlore.com/profile-magnificentrabbitfish.htm
5. Damselfish
http://www.fishlore.com/profile-bluedamselfish.htm
6. An easy butterfly
http://www.fishlore.com/profiles_racoon_butterflyfish.htm
7. I can go on if you'd like? But, I think you get the point. Oh, and I didn't even get to Angelfish who can have a life expectancy of 20+ years.
If you'd like we can take a poll too? Exactly how many people have had a purple tang in captivity for 10+ years? How many people have killed one in less then 10 years? I bet the second one has a much much longer list. I can personally say I've killed 2 purple tangs. One was about 3 years and one was about 5 years.
How many people have held an Angelfish in Captivity for 20+ years? I'm willing to bet not to many people. How many have killed one in less then 20 years? Oooooh Oooooh! I have!
So now I want you to answer a question: What is your plan to complete the life cycle of a fish in it's natural environment compared to in captivity. Yes, this includes breeding the fish.
Exactly how will you breed the fish in your saltwater tank to carry on the natural life cycle? By your standards since we are much better at keeping fish then in their natural environment you can surely breed all the fish you have, correct?
Exactly how many species of Tangs have you been able to breed?
Exactly how many species of Angelfish have you been able to breed?
Exactly how many species of Wrasses have you been able to breed?
Exactly how many species of Eel's have you been able to breed?
Exactly how many species of Butterfly's have you been able to breed"
Exactly how many Lionfish have you been able to breed?
Answer all of them, please.
Are you also suggestion that they live longer in captivity even though we can't complete the life cycle?
Exactly what is your plan to carry on the next generation of your fish? I mean after all you must surely have a plan since they are better off in captivity, correct?
I haven't anything else to prove. I'm right, your wrong. The evidence is in the ocean. They've been doing it successfully and living for millions of years. You can't even do something as simple as completing their natural life cycle of breeding.
We both love this hobby a lot and it's probably something we both hold very close to our hearts. But please, lets not fool ourselves with outrageous comments like your's.
Nice try.
Happy reefing.