Hawaiian Ornamental Fishing Ban PASSED

[Myka]

Originally Posted by gobytron

This Ban could turn out to be the start of the exact scenario you've outlined.

Except all the collectors, exporters, importers, and LFS would all go out of business. Not to mention we would all be limited to the fish currently in captivity.

I do think that it is too easy for hobbyists to acquire wild caught fish.

LFS need to get on the boat too and start having separate systems for captive bred species so that the fish can actually be marketed the way they should be - as disease free! Most LFS just put the captive bred fish in with wild caught and they pick up diseases from the wild caught fish. Kinda makes a moot point. Albeit captive bred fish always feed better, and stress less.

[gobytron]

Just because the industry dies one day does not mean it cant come back later with different metrics...

Plus, well always have developing and third world countries too desperate for cash to care about the ethics or sustainability of the practice to give it up.

[Slick Fork]

I think the ban is a good thing, if you read into the report that Myka provided the yellow tang numbers increased in areas with a full ban on collection. Open water and unprotected populations are still down. It also makes the point that the Yellow tang is unique and a protected areas approach may not have the same effect on all fish.

A limited collection on ornamental fish is WAY more difficult and costly to implement and enforce than for a commercial fishery so I don't see that as a real solution. Perhaps a large import tax on wild-caught fish would encourage captive bred specimens but if prices go too far up people will leave this hobby like you wouldn't believe, causing the price an LFS charges for something to climb even higher as they need a larger margin per item to cover overhead and put food on the table.

I would be sad to see the supply die out completely, LFS's close etc. But, I would be even sadder to see this hobby push a fragile ecosystem over the edge. I love my fish tank, but I don't define my existence by it. If affordable, ethical fish and coral cease to be available I will find something else to do. Simple as that.

[Aquarium_Medics]

Instead of a complete ban, why not a combination, Sustainable collection of wild fish that are not captive bred, and a complete ban on the collection of wild species that are currently captive raised.

[Slick Fork]

Originally Posted by Aquarium_Medics

Instead of a complete ban, why not a combination, Sustainable collection of wild fish that are not captive bred, and a complete ban on the collection of wild species that are currently captive raised.

It's not a bad idea, the trouble is the cost of enforcement and who pays for it and maybe equally important is who takes responsibility for the enforcement. Not to mention the cost of studying each species to the point where they can make an educated decision on how best to protect them (ban/limited fishery).

I would suspect that in 99% of cases it would be significantly cheaper to have an outright ban and take the hit on the economy, than it would be to spend the $$$ on research and enforcement.

[Aquarium_Medics]

Most coastal countries have a fishery enforcement agency, I think this would fall under their jurisdiction

[Slick Fork]

There's a big difference though between overseeing large commercial fishing vessels and keeping tabs on ornamental fish collectors using boats that blend in with recreational boaters.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Slick Fork

I think the ban is a good thing, if you read into the report that Myka provided the yellow tang numbers increased in areas with a full ban on collection. Open water and unprotected populations are still down. It also makes the point that the Yellow tang is unique and a protected areas approach may not have the same effect on all fish.

I think you missed the point where the overall numbers of Yellow Tangs increased by 35% despite doubling the number collected. It shows that in the case of Yellow Tangs where there is a safe place for them to habituate they can increase their total population. You could also easily wonder if many of the open water fish moved to the protected areas simply to avoid the disruption of boats. It is the overall number you need to concentrate on. Now, if they limited the numbers of Yellow Tangs that could be collected there would be an even further increase in population.

[Slick Fork]

Originally Posted by Myka

I think you missed the point where the overall numbers of Yellow Tangs increased by 35% despite doubling the number collected. It shows that in the case of Yellow Tangs where there is a safe place for them to habituate they can increase their total population. You could also easily wonder if many of the open water fish moved to the protected areas simply to avoid the disruption of boats. It is the overall number you need to concentrate on. Now, if they limited the numbers of Yellow Tangs that could be collected there would be an even further increase in population.

Yes, but the increase was due to a complete ban in certain areas... not a limiting of numbers collected.

Perhaps that's the ticket, leave some safe havens for the tangs to breed. The article does state though that this won't work for all fish, it's a success story for yellow tangs because of their breeding and migration habits.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Slick Fork

Yes, but the increase was due to a complete ban in certain areas... not a limiting of numbers collected.

Perhaps that's the ticket, leave some safe havens for the tangs to breed. The article does state though that this won't work for all fish, it's a success story for yellow tangs because of their breeding and migration habits.

Exactly. Ban in certain areas, and limit in the rest of the areas. I think proper management is the answer, but it is definitely a lot less paperwork and effort to just wipe the board clear with a complete ban. They need to start looking at other species now to see what can be done to manage the rest.