"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this aquarium!"

[Knowdafish]

if they had their way, we would all sit around doing nothing but wearing renewable resource grass thatch loincloths. Well, killing grass causes erosion, so Bamboo might be the only alternative.

Bamboo is a great source of really good quality cloth! It is VERY soft, like very expensive fine cotton fabric.

 

[MadRussian79]

The aquarium industry protects the natural environment to a large extent, when locals aren't ignorant. There is now a finacial reason to protect the reef and the eco system, similar to tourism. While it would be great if people just preserved the ocean because it's the right thing to do don't hold your breath. Make it profitable to save the reefs and they remain protected.

Many of the eco lobby really don't give a **** about protecting anything, PETA is first on that list. They want their name in lights, good or bad they need to be the center of attention. Also they have a fundamental failure in grasping human psychology. Cats and dogs are so well protected because they are now an integral part of our lives. Take that away and strip them of that protection over a few generations. No aquariums, no dolphin shows or dolphin movies and people will no longer care.

 

[krzr3000]

I think that he has a general point, but its too broad. Instead of banning all reef tank keepers...ban the chain stores from selling SW fish. I worked at a chain store for a while...MANY people wanted and did keep "nemo" in a goldfish bowl or FW tank. Its a sad reality, many people who keep fish are not on the level of MFK when it comes to common sense. Go after the source, the irresponsible collectors and keepers.

How popular is using cyanide or dynamite to catch fish? Thats something that should be banned.

 

[krichardson]

How popular is using cyanide or dynamite to catch fish? Thats something that should be banned.

I agree and I like your sig.

 

[Knowdafish]

Go after the source, the irresponsible collectors and keepers.

How popular is using cyanide or dynamite to catch fish? That's something that should be banned.

1) Go after irresponsible keepers? How??

2) Cyanide and dynamite fishing is old school and it is not prevalent like it was 20 -30 years ago. It is not used to catch fish for aquariums either, as dead fish don't sell!

 

[Madding]

@ article-

Too bad, so sad.

 

[krzr3000]

1) Go after irresponsible keepers? How??

2) Cyanide and dynamite fishing is old school and it is not prevalent like it was 20 -30 years ago. It is not used to catch fish for aquariums either, as dead fish don't sell!

Maybe not irresponsible keepers then, but collectors and retailers. Speaking from experience my coworkers at PETCO would have sold any fish to anyone without inquiring about their setup. Many people didn't understand the concept of salt vs. fresh water in aquariums.


http://www.starfish.ch/reef/conservation.html

Fisherman often use potassium cyanide and other poisons to stun and capture valuable reef fish. Divers squirt a cyanide solution from bottles directly onto fish resting on corals, killing the corals and stunning the fish. The fish often escape into crevices and the fishermen have to break apart the coral to get to their paralyzed prey. With this technique not only the fish are poisoned, but also the coral polyps and other creatures in the area. Places where cyanide was spread will first form black slime, then they will just become dead coral rock.

This method is used to catch tropical fish for aquariums or to capture valuable fish such as the Napoleon wrasse or groupers for "live fish" restaurants. Of course not all fish survive, it is said that 40% of exotic fish die before they reach the aquarium. Exports of these animals are often formally banned but nether the less done everywhere. According to Interpol the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products ranks second only to drugs in terms of financial rewards.

Coral reefs are often dynamited to harvest small fish. Although it is illegal, it is practiced in many countries worldwide and is a major threat to coral reefs. This destructive fishing methods uses bottles filled with explosives made from potassium nitrate (a common fertilizer). The explosives create an underwater shock wave that ruptures fish swim bladders so they float to the surface where fisherman can easily collect them.