A very interesting read for the AMPHILOPHUS people
- Thread starter Miguel
- Start date
Miguel, my name is Neil, not Ryan. lol
Rodald - thanks for adding some local input. Sad indeed .......
Rodald - thanks for adding some local input. Sad indeed .......
So it looks like Dr. McCrary is part of an effort to conserve the Lake Nicaragua watershed, including work specifically focused on Amphilophus sp:
Their website: http://www.gaianicaragua.org/station.html
Their blog: http://lagunadeapoyo.blogspot.com/
The Biological Research Station “Estación Biológica” in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is a not-for-profit enterprise in public service. “Estación Biológica” serves as a support center for locally organized initiatives in conservation, including community organization and skills training, and as a hostel with rooms available to the public. It is also the site of Apoyo Spanish School, the oldest continuously operating Spanish school in Nicaragua. Our staff work closely with with the community and local and central government officials to promote actions and policies which protect the wild natural resources in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Training in natural resource management, natural sciences, and Spanish language and the Nicaraguan popular cultural issues is conducted for Nicaraguans and foreigners planning to work or volunteer in the region. Through promotion of scientific research, Estación Biológica is the principal reason that Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is the most widely cited natural area in Nicaragua in scientific research reports.
Before we declare that all is lost, throw up our hands and move on to the next thing, there ARE things that we can do.
First, don't buy Central American farmed Tilapia (US seafood is required to show where it's form)...and tell your grocer why you won't buy it or Asian-farmed fish. Buying American not only supports our country, you and your family are eating better and safer fish! Even if it costs a little more.
Next, get involved:
It would be great to see hobbyists get behind these kind of efforts (I don't know anything more than the website about this particular one, so others who do, please add) to conserve and preserve these animals and their habitats. I'm going to send them an email to understand what's going on. If it seems legit, maybe I'll send a few $.
And if you're involved in other NFPs focused on conservation, inquire whether the Lake Nicaragua watershed is among their current activities. Maybe it is...who knows.
Tell your friends! I'd be willing to bet that an infinitseimally small fraction of cichlid hobbyists have any idea about the threats to the fish that they keep and enjoy...
Finally, work to maintain the provenance of the fish you keep. Some day, only captive stocks of these fish might remain. Having stock of known provenance (not assumed, made up, forgotten, etc.) could be the only link to the true genetics of fish from the lake.
Matt
Their website: http://www.gaianicaragua.org/station.html
Their blog: http://lagunadeapoyo.blogspot.com/
The Biological Research Station “Estación Biológica” in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is a not-for-profit enterprise in public service. “Estación Biológica” serves as a support center for locally organized initiatives in conservation, including community organization and skills training, and as a hostel with rooms available to the public. It is also the site of Apoyo Spanish School, the oldest continuously operating Spanish school in Nicaragua. Our staff work closely with with the community and local and central government officials to promote actions and policies which protect the wild natural resources in Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve. Training in natural resource management, natural sciences, and Spanish language and the Nicaraguan popular cultural issues is conducted for Nicaraguans and foreigners planning to work or volunteer in the region. Through promotion of scientific research, Estación Biológica is the principal reason that Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve is the most widely cited natural area in Nicaragua in scientific research reports.
Before we declare that all is lost, throw up our hands and move on to the next thing, there ARE things that we can do.
First, don't buy Central American farmed Tilapia (US seafood is required to show where it's form)...and tell your grocer why you won't buy it or Asian-farmed fish. Buying American not only supports our country, you and your family are eating better and safer fish! Even if it costs a little more.
Next, get involved:
It would be great to see hobbyists get behind these kind of efforts (I don't know anything more than the website about this particular one, so others who do, please add) to conserve and preserve these animals and their habitats. I'm going to send them an email to understand what's going on. If it seems legit, maybe I'll send a few $.
And if you're involved in other NFPs focused on conservation, inquire whether the Lake Nicaragua watershed is among their current activities. Maybe it is...who knows.
Tell your friends! I'd be willing to bet that an infinitseimally small fraction of cichlid hobbyists have any idea about the threats to the fish that they keep and enjoy...
Finally, work to maintain the provenance of the fish you keep. Some day, only captive stocks of these fish might remain. Having stock of known provenance (not assumed, made up, forgotten, etc.) could be the only link to the true genetics of fish from the lake.
Matt
Good points, Matt.
And this group is legit. Dr. McCrary can be reached at;
Jeffrey McCrary
FUNDECI/GAIA
Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua
apoyo@gaianicaragua.org
And this group is legit. Dr. McCrary can be reached at;
Jeffrey McCrary
FUNDECI/GAIA
Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve, Nicaragua
apoyo@gaianicaragua.org
I've only conversed with Jeffrey once via email, but I suspect that in such a poor country with little resources available they would welcome any/all funding that came their way. That and doing some of the things that you had previously suggested - starting with not purchasing tilapia farmed in Central America.
I don't think most hobbyists realize just how critical conservation of crater lakes is. They're UNIQUE. Any changes to them can undo the only-place-in-the-world conditions that make them unique.
Lake Barombi-Mbo in Cameroon is another example. Small crater lake with over a dozen endemic cichlids species. And, unfortunately, a growing city nearby...
Matt
Lake Barombi-Mbo in Cameroon is another example. Small crater lake with over a dozen endemic cichlids species. And, unfortunately, a growing city nearby...
Matt
Agreed. Researchers have been pleading for conservation regulations to be put in place by the Nicaraguan government for many years. There's lots that can be done locally, but only if the local government realizes that once this very unique ecoregion is gone, it's gone for good. A moratorium on non indigenous fish introduction into native waters would be a good start. Getting the area designated a World Heritage Site would be even better.
