Future of the hobby (1 Viewer)

[inigomontoya]

Lots of threads start off with the potential curtailment of acroporid fragging and collection in the future due to NOAA and NFMS. I found this a nice, reasonable viewpoint

Reefkeeping is NOT under attack — Advanced Aquarist | Aquarist Magazine and Blog

Love the size restriction suggestion.
Thoughts?

 

[Cody]

But I've already got my pitch fork ready to go! What am I supposed to do with it now? Just put it away?! That's almost impossible!

 

[reeftopia]

20 years ago I started raising parrots as a hobby just like corals after a few years I was all in. At the time I started scarlet macaws were about to go on the endangered species list but because of breeders there was a big rise in their numbers. Probably did 200 babies just myself. Dont hear any more talk about them going extinct. Bottom line Hobbiest will eventually supply the demand

 

[CBBSteve]

Just like what happened to alligators. As soon as states started permitting alligator farms, they came off the endangered species list.

That's the same argument I made last year when they were asking for input about all those corals being put on the list. As long as there are thousands of farmers / hobbyists you really can't say they're endangered.

good luck,
Steve

 

[OceansX]

So pitchforks down

Good quick read summarizing NOAA and NMFS stance on our hobby. I have friends and co-workers at NOAA and some some other agencies, and this article makes a lot of sense to me. NOAA and NMFS are NOT against the hobby. They're working to maintain our natural resources e.g. fisheries, coral reefs etc.

As the Author Leonard Ho says:

"They have no vested interest in hurting us or any industry. They simply want to protect species under real threat. To suggest that the NMFS is out to ban reef life importation is a masterclass in vilification or ignorance. Or just a general distrust of government or science, which sadly I'm seeing a whole lot of."
rallying or not?


There are some "charities" taking advantage of the F.U.D. That being said I do support to PIJAC."

 

[steveb]

I'm not sure its time for pitch forks either but... the problem comes in if/when they (Fish & Wildlife) decide to place import restrictions on at the family (acroporidae) or genus (acropora) level due to the complexity of trying to determine if a specific species (identified by NOAA) is being imported illegally (i.e. lokani vs. caraliniana). The other issue is that there currently (last time I read through it) NO provision to allow for sale/trade of aqua/mari-culture of endangered species on the list.

 

[James Lynch]

I do not believe they are wanting to intentionally hurt the hobby or the industry but I do believe it could be a side effect of the legislation. This would occur because of what Steve mentioned no provisions in it for the aqua/maricultured coral.

 

[steveb]

Really good video on why this NOAA listing is bad...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fatpwr6t5uU&list=TLd5RlQj_jxXg