Hawaiian Ornamental Fishing Ban PASSED

gobytron · #1 10-14-2011, 07:32 PM

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 · #2 10-14-2011, 08:01 PM

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 · #3 10-14-2011, 08:24 PM

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 · #4 10-14-2011, 08:52 PM

Quote:

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 · #5 10-14-2011, 11:26 PM

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

Slick Fork · #6 10-15-2011, 12:54 AM

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.

paddyob · #7 10-16-2011, 04:02 PM

I think a partial ban would be the way to go.

Stop removing delicate/impossible/next-to-impossible to raise species in the wild.

Parrots, Copperbands, etc have a poor survival rate and it is because of the hobbyist not having a clue or poor advice from an LFS.

Some people keep fish successfully. Some do not... and then try again.

Fish are animals too. Some regulation would be good.

banditpowdercoat · #8 10-18-2011, 03:24 PM

I have allways wondered why wild fish are cheaper. I mean, you buy Wild Salmon, it costs a lot more than farmed Salmon. Why are our fish any different. I am all for preserving the oceans, getting CB instead of Wild. Regulate the collection, don't just ban it outright.

It's like saying Cars kill to many people, so instead of all the regulations we have, were just going to ban them all together.. Ya that really makes sense....

Myka · #9 10-15-2011, 01:25 AM

Quote:

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 · #10 10-15-2011, 01:53 AM

Quote:

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.