The End of our Hobby as we know it!

[blajoie]

Thanks to AI for alerting me to this proposed NOAA rule.
(perhaps you have all seen this, but after a quick search I could not find anything)

- TEXT FROM AQUA ILLUMINATION http://www.aquaillumination.com/ -

Our hobby is in jeopardy.

NOAA proposal threatens to earmark 83 species of coral as endangered.

What does that mean for us? The end of our hobby as we know it.

Imagine if we could no longer buy, sell, trade, or even remove and replace any number of very common aquarium species we have in our systems. Nearly all common stony corals including many of our favorite Acropora, Montipora, Porites, Pocillopora, Seriatopora, Pectinia, Pavona and Millepora species. In addition many of our favorite large polyp stony species such as Hammer coral, Frogspawn and Candy Cane corals will be illegal to even grow and share with your friends.

This would make no distinction between wild collected, maricultured, farmed, or aquacultured. The result is it could be a felony to give a branch of Hammer Coral to a friend, punishable by up to a $50,000 fine and 1 year in jail for doing so.

Help us fight! We only have until APRIL 6th to file opposition! That is only a few days away, please take the time to send feedback today!

To register your opposition to this regulation:

Electronic Submissions: Click below and complete the required fields, and enter or attach your comments.

http://www.regulations.gov/#!submitComment;D=NOAA-NMFS-2010-0036-0469

Postal Mail Submissions:
Regulatory Branch Chief
Protected Resources Division National Marine Fisheries Service Pacific Islands Regional Office 1601 Kapiolani Blvd. Suite 1110 Honolulu, HI 96814
Attn: 82 Coral Species proposed listing
or
Assistant Regional Administrator Protected Resources Division National Marine Fisheries Service Southeast Regional Office 263 13th Avenue South
Saint Petersburg, FL 33701
Attn: 82 Coral Species proposed listing

Fax submissions:
808-973-2941: Attn: Protected Resources Regulatory Branch Chief
or
727-824-5309: Attn: Protected Resources Assistant Regional Administrator

Copies of relevant documents:

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/corals.htm

http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/stories/2012/11/82corals.html

US NOAA Coral Species Listing II_ALT

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Have your voices heard before this absurd rule is passed into law.

 

[Drae]

Endangered? ! Coral reefs are thriving I thought?

 

[phantomg23]

far from thriving.certain sections,yes. but as a whole, nope

 

[whiteshark]

If it is really necessary to do this for the future of the worlds reefs so be it. I would just hope they would modify it so that tank raised stuff would be kosher to trade and sell.

 

[blajoie]

If it is really necessary to do this for the future of the worlds reefs so be it. I would just hope they would modify it so that tank raised stuff would be kosher to trade and sell.

They are not going to modify anything unless you stand up and let them know you oppose this bill in its current form. We have TWO DAYS left to take action.

 

[Steveb]

I would definitely take the opportunity to speak up....

If not don't gripe when its gone...

Agency: NOAA
Document ID: NOAA-NMFS-2010-0036-0469 Your Comment Tracking Number: 1jx-84lb-ak7h

 

[usmc121581]

I love this hobby a lot so much as I can't or won't stop them from naming endangered. Hey should have done that years ago because with out these measures are kids wouldn't be able to enjoy what most of us enjoy.

However I don't agree with he part about growing it and selling something that was grown in my tank. I have a huge frogspawn.

 

[rrasco]

They're probably being indiscriminate in the classifications because how would they be able to verify one way or the other? There is no way to really prove whether a coral wasn't aquacultured. We could prove we grew it through photographic evidence, but would we be required to do so? Presuming they would to re-word the bill, of course.

 

[Squidward5]

Sent my comments..kinda surprised I am now just hearing about it.

 

[whiteshark]

Sent my comment.

 

[ACBlinky]

Is this something that would apply only in the USA, or worldwide? If they're listed as endangered or threatened, would this just prevent import to the US or do they want to stop collection and export everywhere?

It seems extreme that those people with these corals already in their tanks could be fined; does this proposed law not have a grandfather clause? I thought there were rules of law to prevent prosecution for something that was perfectly legal when it took place. Fining someone for owning a newly protected coral they purchased legally a year ago would be like lowering the speed limit on a street and then going door to door, fining every motorist who drove at the (legal) old speed limit the day before... doesn't make sense to me. Not to mention, a rather ridiculous use of police time and government resources.

 

[Bigcefa]

How can aquaculturing and selling them be illegal? I don't get that

 

[Spectre2006]

If you look at all the consumption curves, everyone of them is parabolic. When that happens in a closed system, it leads to the demise of the system.

It means in the next 50-100 years, human population will under go mass extinction level event. The corals will come back, but humans may end up reliving the steam age at greatly reduced population levels.

 

[TimLikesFish]

The site says there are only 46 comments received... Come on people!! This is serious and very easy to leave a comment. I was wondering why my reef club was having a speaker on 'new changes coming to the hobby' tomorrow, this has me really nervous now

 

[leveldrummer]

If you look at all the consumption curves, everyone of them is parabolic. When that happens in a closed system, it leads to the demise of the system.

It means in the next 50-100 years, human population will under go mass extinction level event. The corals will come back, but humans may end up reliving the steam age at greatly reduced population levels.

 

[Silvergryphon]

I sent my response in and copied this onto my local forum.

 

[alprazo]

The more vague the law is written, the greater enforcement abilities they have. Read the Lacey act. Comment sent.

 

[bobssecrtsn]

Can i have your permission to Copy your OP and post it in on other forums around my area?

 

[blajoie]

There are 700+ people browsing this forum right now. Lets go people! This would make all of us FELONS! Either stand up and do something about this or don't complain when you are forced to flush all these species down the toilet.

This government ... :headwally:

 

[sail33]

I left my comment and am posting it here in case some one wants a rough guide for what they may want to say.

Not saying mine is the best or covers all of the important points. Just trying to help

Greetings.

The proposed addition of various reef building coral to the threatened and or endangered species list has my approval if based on scientific studies.

I cannot, however, agree with an overall ban including the propagation and trade of these varieties when tank bred.

As I understand it, private breeders would be prevented from selling, trading and seeding reefs with healthy, home grown corals.

Commercial breeders can take the pressure off of the reef while still providing hobbyists with corals.

Please consider that hobbyists often keep records of best growth conditions, can contribute to general knowledge and preservation of these species. If trade and /or possession these corals are banned 100% certain restorative actions will be greatly inhibited or eliminated.

Ban wild harvests. Ban transport of bulk corals. But consider permitting commercial tank breeders and private sales to continue.

Thank you