I think it might be a joke, or just an unorthodox (albeit trollish) way of putting this topic up for discussion. Is the aquarium hobby sustainable? Does it hurt the environment more than it helps?
I think the #1 way that it hurts is by introducing non native species into the waterways, such as Hydrilla.
Sometimes I feel guilty for doing water changes on 6 tanks in a drought. I try to conserve water in other ways to offset this. I also use nearly all of my water change water on potted plants outdoors.
Next, there are the fish. It's true that some collection practices are still being used that are very environmentally unsound - the use of explosives and cyanide, which is used in some FW fish also, not just marines. Rather than stop wild collecting fish, we need to press for better collection methods. The same way that we won't ever stop eating meat, even though that would be best for the environment. The best we can hope for is to make it more humane to do so, and to hopefully bring back real farming and farms, not just factory farms where the crops and the livestock are completely separate.
It's the same thing with the aquarium hobby. All we can hope for is that technology and experience will come together to ensure as few fish as possible stay alive at the wholesaler, survive transport and arrive healthy at the retailer, so that we don't "waste" fish - they're going to be caught and sold, no matter what - making it as efficient yet humane as possible, is all we can strive for.
Without reef aquariums and reef aquarists, most people would not know much about these creatures, since many people don't have nearby public aquariums. Knowing them helps to garner interest for their conservation. This is why every aquarium and zoo makes it a point to mention environmental issues.
Just my two cents!
