Harvesting Nemo

[pedzola]

Growing concern for Hawaii's aquarium fish trade:
http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/10/10/harvesting.nemo.ap/index.html


As a frequent lurker here on the boards, I thought I'd make one of my first contributions about a topic that should be very important to all of us.

Extensive harvesting of tropical species, both fresh and saltwater, goes on around the world. We've all heard the stories of fish that have been harvested into extinction in the wild, and now only exist in home aquariums.

As a relative "newbie" to the hobby (I've been keeping fish for less than a year), I think it's very important to educate the general fishkeeping public about the plight of our beloved pets.

I am planning to avoid buying any fish that is not "captive-bred," and I would encourage all of you to do the same. Yes, it is already difficult to find the "right" fish for your tank without having to worry about where they came from, but by doing your part to help conserve the worlds reefs and tropical ecosystems, you will be preserving the hobby for generations to come.

We should all encourage our local fish stores to make their suppliers/sources public. One web site that highlights tank-bred fish, corals, and inverts is:
http://www.liveaquaria.com


Thanks for listening. How bout a sticky?

(duplicate thread in general marine forum)

 

[sumthin fishy]

Good post, thanks. My brother went to Hawaii for his honeymoon this summer. He went snorkling and saw a triggerfish species that he actually had in his aquarium at home. He even got a picture. It would be a sad thing if someday we wouldn't be able to see them in thier natural habitat like he did.

 

[Holly9937]

Just another of so many environmental issues that are ignored until there is a problem, and the damage is potentially done :rant:

thanks for the post

 

[Must4ng s4lly]

Thank you for the excellent post!

 

[chefkeith]

Personally, I prefer wild fish over the captive breed. Most fish are not captive breed because there is an abundance of them in the wild. Alot of fish won't breed in captivity too.

 

[from my dorm]

Very sad!

I have been snorkeling and seen many amazing fish that I have seen at pets stores, zoos and even household tanks. In the wild it is much more breathtaking to see an entire school of fish swimming together amongst other fish in their natural habitat. Very good post, everyone should read!

 

[fishypoo2]

I am planning to avoid buying any fish that is not "captive-bred," and I would encourage all of you to do the same. [\QUOTE]

Pardon me if I do, but I don't mean to sound offensive when I say that that that is an ignorant and generalistic statement. For the most part, yes, buying captive raised specimens over wild caught ones might be better. But there are always exceptions. Some of you might have heard my rant-like defensiveness regarding Project Piaba (buying many wild caught Amazonian fishes is actually more ecologically sound than buying captive raised ones). But there is also a couple programs going on in the South Pacific regarding marine animals. The Marine Aquarium Council (www.aquariumcouncil.org) and Project Seahorse, are two groups trying to make the "harvest" of wild ornamental fishes in the South Pacific a more sustainable and safe one for the fishes (i.e. educating the fishermen against using sodium cyanide, and instead using nets, and helping them to reduce unwanted bycatch). It is not only better for the fish if you buy MAC certified fish from a retail store, but it is also better for you and the fisherman that catches them. Then you will know your fish was caught as part of a closely studied fishery and not using harmful techniques.

Ryan

 

[kanakaia]

Nice post and so true.

 

[pedzola]

For the most part, yes, buying captive raised specimens over wild caught ones might be better. But there are always exceptions.

There are exceptions to every rule. I think that regulating the industry is fantastic, but there are always people who will skirt those regulations. I'm not saying that fishermen are completely to blame for this - they are just trying to make a living after all, but I am trying to look at the big picture.

Feel free to disagree with me here, but I think that any fish that can be farm-raised is certainly classifiable as "renewable" and probably isn't in "danger." In other words, people wouldn't farm the fish if they couldn't keep making more! So my logic is that if you only purchase farmed fish, then you are probably affecting natural habitats much less than if you were buying wild caught fish.

Does that sound reasonable? The aquarium harvesting industry isn't going to grind to a halt because of a couple of posts on a message board after all - but I think it's important for everyone to try to do their part. Less demand = less harvesting = more fish in the wild.

 

[fishypoo2]

So my logic is that if you only purchase farmed fish, then you are probably affecting natural habitats much less than if you were buying wild caught fish.

I agree too, BUT... There are advantages to buying wild-caught fish (again: not in all cases!): it would employ the locals in a potentially sustainable resource collection, where otherwise they might collect corals to turn into limestone, or mine gold in the amazon, or cut down trees, etc. It's not just a benefit to the consumer, but also to the local peoples and wildlife in general. And, just as there are exceptions to everything, there are also problems with everything, and captive raising of fish (not just for the aquarium) can be inherently problematic. Just ask around, you've probably heard of tropical aquarium species being caught in the "backwoods" of Florida, or of the controversy with salmon farmin in Canada and northern Europe.