Quote:
Originally Posted by Johnny Reefer
Quote:
Originally Posted by Troy F
It never hurts to be educated but the truth is; collection for the hobby hurts reefs.
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I never said it doesn't hurt reefs, but I think it's a necessary evil, (provided regulations are followed), until such time that education and research have created an industry that relies primarily on captive breeding and propagation. I believe that education is due, in part, to home reefkeeping. I also believe that that education can and will be beneficial toward restoring coral reefs. Ignorance is not going to reverse the trend that face coral reefs today. Again, my (limited) knowledge probably won't matter. I'm a small cog in a huge wheel. But, if a future marine biologist gets his/her start from keeping a home reef tank then all the power to them. Admittedly, maybe this is all wishful thinking, on my part, but at least it is positive thinking and until such time that anyone can prove to me that my involvement in the hobby of reefkeeping is contributing to the total extinction of coral reefs, I will stand by what I say, and continue to support the hobby.
Don't get me wrong, though. I'm not in this JUST to support a platform of education for others, who might become marine biologists. I will be the first to admit that I definitely gain amusment from the hobby also, but...
I don't think we ALL are in it JUST for amusement
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Another way of putting it, with reference to this part of the overall discussion, is that I believe that wild collecting is necessary toward providing an education, in various forms, and research toward captive breeding and propagation so that that industry could be eventually predominant over wild collecting.
A means to an end.
Correct me if I am wrong, but was the FW industry not waaaay more wild caught at one time than it is today? The Discus industry is a prime example.
BTW, I realize this is off the topic of "Tangs in a 90?" and I apologize for that.
