where do you stand on saving our reefs??? serious questions for you to ponder on:)

[saltcreep]

This is a great thread and I feel that I will chime in with my thoughts. Just to give a little perspective, I am in the industry on the wholesale side. I have been through some of the trials and tribulations with respect to awareness and protection. There have been some major progress made since my early involvement. It needs to continue.

1)so what do you think about our hobby and its impact on the natural reefs?
-It's getting better, however there is still a long way to go. I don't feel that the impact is as large as some of the other major environmental concerns (deforestation, climate change, food fishery, etc), but there is still an impact, even with the removal of a single organism.

2)do you buy wildcaught if yes does it bother you?
-Sure do and will continue to do so.

3)what do you think we as hobbysts can do to protect or help our reefs??
- Be informed and vote with your wallet. That is the strongest statement you can make.

4)do you see the hobby coming to an end??
- No, however the hobby as you see it today may be radically different in the future. Environmental concerns will force changes to the industry in that the reefs will be seen as a precious resource. Some collection areas are beginning to clue in, but not quite enough yet.

5)do you support captive breeding??
- sure, why not. However, I will not support it to the point of excluding wild caught items. In some areas of the world, ornamental fish collecting is essentially the only industry available and it goes a long way to supporting villages.

6)what do you think the impact would be to the economy if collecting/harvesting were to stop??
- see six. This would be financially catastrophic to most of the collecting areas, especially at the local village level. Our economy would not suffer, but the degree to which the industry in Canada survives would be wholly dependant upon when such a ban were to be put in place. If it were sooner rather than later, the effects would be more severe. At present, there just isn't enough cultured product to support the industry as it is today.

7)do you think blackmarket or underground coral smuggling exist in our country??
- like it or not, it is alive and well. There aren't enough government resources to effectively oversee this industry. There never will be so it will continue.

8)do you think collecting and harvesting practises could be better?
- it can always be improved. There are still far too many areas and collectors that resort to improper collection methods. Again, government resources are tight in all areas so enforcement is at less than a bare minimum.

9)would you not buy something because it came from the wild??
- depends on what it is. If it's an item that should have never been collected, then never.

10)do you think the impact has bettered in the last ten yrs or gotten worse??
- the impact has lessened, especially with respect to coral and rock harvesting.

11)do you believe there should be animal laws regarding fish and tank sizes??
- never going to happen

12)do you feel guilty for caging these little creatures?
- only when I go diving.

13)whats your thoughts on species that dont do well and lfs bringing them in reguarily
- again vote with your wallet. If you don't buy that species or go further and don't support the LFS, they will eventually be forced to change.

14)would you buy something smuggled or not supposed to be in our country??
- knowingly...never

15)would you be willing to give up this hobby if you knew it would save the reefs and oceans of the world?
-I'd be also giving up my livelihood. Ending this industry would only have a negligible impact on the reefs. There are many things that can be done in a sustainable manner. It comes down to will. I still feel that change can be positively affected by the consumer. You have the final say.