Environmental Impact of our Hobby.

[Reefer Rob]

Pretty much everything we do has a negative impact on the environment. When I ride my bike to work instead of drive, I run over slugs, insects, the odd small furry creature, and I give nothing back. At best I impact the environment less.

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.

The main downside with our tanks of is course our energy guzzling contribution to global warming. If it wasn't for this my tank would be much, much bigger! Oh, and I'd go back to metal halides.

[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.

[somafish]

"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."

I don't believe this statement. global warming has destroyed more reef in 5 years then the damage done by the aquarium business the past 40, this year alone with warm waters and acidification entire systems have been lost.
At this point we are starting to become conservationists because if our carbon emissions are not strongly curbed in 10 years we won't have reefs, our tanks will become zoos to what use to be wild. I think we have to make a push for more local(frag swaps)l,sustainable(proper catching techniques) and maybe passing up on suppliers that are only out for the easy buck, but more then that we have to be more involved in how we control our carbon footprint.
All my coral in my tank was bought from someone who fragged it from their tank, all my fish bought in the last 2 years minus a purple tang,and a damsel are from breeders.My tank can't hold a candle to some sps Systems
On here but it is possible to enjoy this hobby with out taking from the ocean.

[Bblinks]

I love sharkfin soup! And steak and porkchops and all sorts of poultry. You guys eat that stuff or is it another environmental impact...do yourself a favour and if you want to make a difference, please get out of the hobby and become a vegan. Other wise, respect other cultures and don't condemn something that you don't understand.