Dare I start this thread again. After all, I am a newbie. What I want to say is off the topic of Tangs, but, here goes anyway…
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Rikko
We're all enslaving marine life in the name of our own amusement. We aren't helping anything (or are we "learning"?
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I’m sorry, but I have to disagree with some of the above statement.
I do not think that we ALL are enslaving marine life JUST for our own amusement. I, for one, have
learned SOOOOO MUCH in just the short 7 months, since I began reading on the subject of keeping marine aquariums and setting up my reef tank, that it’s hard to keep up with the wealth of knowledge and remember it all. (44 years old. For those younger folks who may not understand…the older you get, the harder it is to learn and retain information).
I also like to think that we (reef aquarists) ARE helping. The more reef aquarists there are, (within reason), the more knowledgable and aware we (humankind) are with regards to coral reef habitation. I think we make a positive impact both directly and indirectly, and in numerous ways, in both aspects. I am no marine biologist, by any means, and I don’t expect that I, personally, will ever have a
direct impact on the enhancement of wild coral reefs. But I like to think that I have a positive
indirect impact just by being a part of the reefkeeping hobby and providing a market and incentive for captive breeding and propagation farms to flourish. Not only will these farms help to reduce wild specimen collecting, but I’m sure the research conducted to understand how to breed and propagate in captivity will help humankind to understand wild coral reef habitats. Without thousands upon thousands (dare I say millions) of reef aquarists, in the world, who basically drive the reef aquarium industry, I very much doubt that any of these aquaculture/farms would be in existence. After all, money makes the world go around and this industry is just getting started. One might argue that if there were
less aquarists then there would be less wild specimen collecting. well I suppose so, in the short term. But specimen collecting is not the only negative aspect affecting coral reefs, IMHO. Trans ocean shipping, pollution, climate change, eco tourism, human population encroachment, commercial overfishing, (have I missed anything), all impact the reefs as well. Understanding of the reefs and what affects them in the how and why is what is going to save them, IMO, and that starts with education. Heck, the marine biologist who discovers a solution to rejuvenating the dying elkhorn Acropora in the Caribbean, thus having a
direct impact, may very well be some kid growing up right now in a household that has a reef aquarium and this is what drives he/she to become a marine biologist in the first place. Ya, I know, get out the violins, but think about it. (Actually, I’m sure there are already marine biologists working very hard, right now, on that issue. And I wouldn’t be surprised that most, if not all, grew up in a household with some sort of aquarium).
To summarize, IMO…no, it’s not just for amusement,
…yes, I think I am helping, and,
…yes, I, for one, am learning.
Cheers and a
.