Environmental Impact of our Hobby.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

I would say yes we do have a positive effect captive reef keeping. The biggest threat the the reef in the wild is not global warming, but the people who live near the reef. Coral farming by the local inhabitants, who likely have a subsistence lifestyle, gives them a reason to value the reefs. They now have an economic incentive to preserve the local environment, as well as an (relative) affluence they would not have previously had.

Fair point. I can see that promoting better care of reefs.

[Geo]

Is it possible to set up a reef and stock it with only captive bred fish and cultured corals today?

What about clean up crew, are they wild?

[Reefer Rob]

Originally Posted by Geo

Is it possible to set up a reef and stock it with only captive bred fish and cultured corals today?

What about clean up crew, are they wild?

Absolutely! Captive bread fish are little harder, but many of us have tanks that are 100% captive bread corals.

[Myka]

When I see things like this, I think our efforts and money need to be spent focusing on awareness (shark fins aren't going to make you "perform" better guys) and laws in poverty-stricken or naive cultures.

Shark fins drying on a roof top in Hong Kong:


Same building:

[Reefer Rob]

Originally Posted by Myka

When I see things like this, I think our efforts and money need to be spent focusing on awareness (shark fins aren't going to make you "perform" better guys) and laws in poverty-stricken or naive cultures.

Shark fins drying on a roof top in Hong Kong:

Yup, the darker side of human nature. A total lack of respect for the other creatures we share this planet with!

[Rice Reef]

Originally Posted by Myka

When I see things like this, I think our efforts and money need to be spent focusing on awareness (shark fins aren't going to make you "perform" better guys) and laws in poverty-stricken or naive cultures.

Shark fins drying on a roof top in Hong Kong:


Same building:

How ignorant can we get?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Absolutely! Captive bread fish are little harder, but many of us have tanks that are 100% captive bread corals.

Yes, it's so cool when people have 100% cultured corals! LPS tanks are usually the worst for wild corals, but softy and SPS tanks are often full of maricultured and hobbyist-cultured corals. It's a beautiful thing.

My tank has 3 wild Aussie Acros and 1 wild Zoa colony, and part of me regrets buying these because there are so many cultured options. The rest of my corals are maricultured and hobbyist-cultured.