I also think that a big stink should made out of this so that the public knows that us hobbyists do not agree with this type of behavior. With what is going on with the proposed ban in Hawaii, stuff like this does not help our hobby!

So if everyone else jumped off a bridge would you, too? :lol:

No, I just yell at them as I watch them fall....There is nothing "right" about being in this hobby, no thinking we're ethical just because we rally about the extremes in the industry either good or bad. We still keep captured wild animals in a small glass box. If a person has a problem with the way the industry is they should leave the hobby rather than support it. :biggrin:

This is true..... But if we choose to be involved in this hobby, however selfish that may be, then we can also choose to support retailers that do things legally...... No?

thats where i stand too......without laws and regulations to follow alot of stuff would go downhill pretty quick......whats so hard about obeying the law???

Sure that's what we do when we decide where our dollars are spent. There would be people/retailers that would have bought the rock regardless of how it was obtained I don't think he would have brought in 10 tons without a few of them being pre sold or at the very least knowing he could move it. How can anyone be certain the rock they have in their tank, the fish they take home or the corals they buy are 100 percent legal. With an industry that starts mostly in impoverished nations you could hardly blame a local for cutting a few corners (or breaking the law) to feed his family. But when that product hits the shops who can say with complete certainty that it was brought in legal.

Right, but the "the way the industry is" in general is not illegal importation!

Yes, agreed.

As a hobbyist you never know, that's just such an open statement that it is kinda ridiculous.

If one more person refers to the permits as CITIES I'm borrowing Mike's AK =)

Given the mood around here I should add that that's a joke :biggrin:

It is when you take it out of context, not so much when you read what went along with it.

Agreed! I refrained from commenting. :lol:

It was still ridiculous. I just don't like big huge quotes, so I only quoted exactly what I was commenting on. I always do this. :becky:

How conveeeeeeenient lol:lol: Okay I'm done again...