carb850
New member
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1380526
Scroll down 2/3rd of the way down for a post from Walt Smith.
Scroll down 2/3rd of the way down for a post from Walt Smith.
Tonga Ban
- Thread starter carb850
- Start date
firefish2020
New member
Just as I said 3 years ago, we the (hobbyists) will end up taking the blame for every reef related disaster and possible disaster percieved that "The Power That Be" can think of. It's better to ignore real reasons and focus the blame elsewhere and that's what humans do best, they pass blame to benefit themselves. The truth is that hobbyists can do more to sustain these creatures than government oversite comities and most "scientists" have been lead to believe. However I believe this is just the first salvo in a wave of moves that will "IN MY PERSONAL OPINION" be used to restrict coral and other inverts only to specific groups who pay for the privilege to raise and subsequently deal in trade of these animals. In short there is much $$$ to be made in coral farming and growouts and THEY know it, it's perfect timing with the new Pro-Earth Pro-Environment movement to impose such restrictions which will be heralded as a great win for earth and the reefs but in reality will be a great win for those in charge of licensing coral & invert sales while at the same time killing poor countries who cant pay to join the new club and whos income is derived from this trade. If they want to ban import of anything it should be restricted to certain species, as descriptions of "CORAL" and "CLAMS" are just to broad of terms and only shows how little THEY really know or care to know about this hobby and industry.
All my opinion I don't care if you believe it or not but you should at least consider the possibility and learn to read between the lines.
Also IMO every single reefer out there should learn to frag his/her coral, sell it trade it, give it away etc create a sustainable supply and prove that we know what we are doing and that we are in no way responsible for anything other than learning better techniques to raise maintain and keep these animals alive. Of course in time I'm sure we hobbyists will also be made to pay the price to raise, sell and or trade our corals.
Paranoid?
Yep
All my opinion I don't care if you believe it or not but you should at least consider the possibility and learn to read between the lines.
Also IMO every single reefer out there should learn to frag his/her coral, sell it trade it, give it away etc create a sustainable supply and prove that we know what we are doing and that we are in no way responsible for anything other than learning better techniques to raise maintain and keep these animals alive. Of course in time I'm sure we hobbyists will also be made to pay the price to raise, sell and or trade our corals.
Paranoid?
Yep
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firefish2020
New member
firefish2020
New member
I'm still researching but so far I see no mention of fish.
carb850
New member
After I found this, I was looking around for Tonga Rock, I cannot find any. Pacific East Aquaculture used to sell a Tonga Fusion which people spoke highly for for about $3.50 a lbs. He is listing none in stock and not expecting anymore. Live Aquaria is sold out of the Tonga Branch. I did find one place showing a stock of Tonga Kalini (sp?). ... it didn't tank long.
firefish2020
New member
As I expected you will see unnecessary price hikes due to "shortages" Shortages in this case are prob about 45% artificial as everything on those lists from the target nations will likely be set aside to insure maximum profit when it is sold. However remember this is not a "life long permanent ban" it is a moratorium that can be reversed when and if the member nations decide to comply with the regulations set forth. That means buy cheap wait a while then sell high before the prices drop again.
carb850
New member
Ban was shortly lifted and already scheduled to be put in place again in the very near future.
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1437433
I had been wanting some branch rock and figured I would get it eventually but I now believe it better not put it off any longer. I found some dried Tonga Branch at Marcorocks and just put in a small order. I hope it is as nice as the photos he posted. Photo's will be posted once received.
Marco Rocks
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1437433
I had been wanting some branch rock and figured I would get it eventually but I now believe it better not put it off any longer. I found some dried Tonga Branch at Marcorocks and just put in a small order. I hope it is as nice as the photos he posted. Photo's will be posted once received.
Marco Rocks
carb850
New member
Check out the Branch Rock at www.marcorocks.com Last time I checked he sold out of the per pound cherry picks but still has the #40 boxes available.
phljess
New member
Do you think this will really make a difference? I would think the wholesellers in the Kingdom of Tonga will just move the products to a neighboring Island and then use it to import the stuff to the US. Not sure if there is any regulations on it but I am sure if it happens the Tonga stuff will be a little higher.
BTW, I really like the rock. Too bad it costs so much just to get it dry instead of live.
BTW, I really like the rock. Too bad it costs so much just to get it dry instead of live.
carb850
New member
No other charges, just shipping which is cheap since your not on the clock of live goods.
It is expensive for dry rock, but if they really do stop shipping (or drastrically reduce) the amount of branch being shipped the stuff will only go up. Even when they were shipping, the cheapest I ever seen Branch rock was $4 a lbs. Even at that price, the cost goes up a good bit per pound when you factor in overnight shipping.
It is expensive for dry rock, but if they really do stop shipping (or drastrically reduce) the amount of branch being shipped the stuff will only go up. Even when they were shipping, the cheapest I ever seen Branch rock was $4 a lbs. Even at that price, the cost goes up a good bit per pound when you factor in overnight shipping.
carb850
New member
I normally don't quote myself but this time is it worthy.
If you have not check out the above thread please do so. It has started a fantastic discuss on our (reef keepers) impact on nature and this hobby. Some of the arguments are very new to me and have me questioning some of my own pre-conceived notions of responsible behavior.
On a side not, Marco is just about out of the Tonga Branch. He only has small pieces left. That didn't take long...
firefish2020
New member
We started the CVRC years ago for some of these reasons. When other places were growing coral and taking names for stalks of xenia at $89 a stalk we were determined to make this hobby sustainable on a local level. We took and still are taking some heat for it with some claiming we are only interested in the commercial aspects and others thinking the club is a front for a business etc. I'm not lying to any of you, of course there is a commercial aspect to it but that is not the main reason I do it. We have taught more people than I could imagine how to share there coral in this area and that has resulted in what used to be a rich boy hobby becoming a tangible goal for anyone wanting to give it a shot. It has also sent a powerful message to whosalers, when we demand aquaculture they focus more on aquaculture and less on WC.
Coral wise, I believe there is far less impact on the reefs today than there was even five years ago, more and more aquacultured sources are out there and husbandry skills have now lead to less coral dying in holding tanks or retail tanks. These results can be traced back to efforts such as this one.
Coral wise, I believe there is far less impact on the reefs today than there was even five years ago, more and more aquacultured sources are out there and husbandry skills have now lead to less coral dying in holding tanks or retail tanks. These results can be traced back to efforts such as this one.
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