By simply clicking on RC we all support wild collected to some degree, none of us have clean hands, but there are different degrees of responsibility IMO. Each time we watch a program on TV that gets part of its revenue from Cruise Lines, SUVs etc..., we have said in a way that its ok to destroy the reefs of the world.
I used to think that captive raised frags was the best way to protect the worlds reefs, but I don't any longer.
I believe that the only way to protect them in the long run is to give ownership, and an incentive to the native peoples. Currently the biggest theat to the reefs comes from global warming, pollution, and to a lesser degree blast fishing. If the native peoples had an incentive (real living wages) for their reefs, then they might be able to protect them, or at least would have more motivation to speak up about there destruction. That $50 coral or fish that we purchase at the LFS probably made the collector about $.50, this IMO needs to change if we wish to see any real protection.
There is no way that I can believe the worlds reefs can't be farmed in the same manner as any other natural resource. The problem as I see it is, even if farmed in a responsible manner, the industrialized nations will continue along their reef killing path until it is too late.
Steve
