Making Wild Fish Illegal

[leebca]

I'm putting this issue to the reader in the form of a poll. Choose the statement that you most agree with.

[NOTE: I call Anemonefishes, Anemonefishes, not by their slang term, clowns.]

No one can deny the popularity of 'Nemo' in the marine aquarium hobby. Since the movie came out in 2003, it is the reason many have gotten into the hobby, which has (also undeniably) been loosing popularity as a hobby.

There has been a great increase in the availability of tank bred Anemonefishes. It is one of the more-or-less less challenging marine fishes to reproduce in captivity. However, one thing I've noticed is that this breeding it taking place in the US, UK, and Europe primarily where labor costs and dry goods costs are high. Thus the tank bred fishes tend to be more costly. On the other hand, to keep costs down, the breeder ends up with the fuzzy end of the lollipop by getting very little money for the fish they have worked so hard to breed. It's like the chicken egg -- the farmer gets less than a penny for the egg that sells in the market for 12 or more cents.

Back to the fish's popularity -- It seems that wild populations of Anemonefishes are being significantly reduced. Some UK marine biologists are now warning that Anemonefishes are facing extinction in some parts of the world. This has been reported by the UK Times and can be found also at www.dailyrecord.co.uk

It isn't fair to claim that the reduced wild population of Anemonefishes is due to the hobby. There are of course many factors, the least of which include the climate and environmental changes affecting reef and marine life populations. However, the collection of wild marine fishes has some impact on the wild population.

I wish to focus on a particular question regarding the Anemonefish. Since we have the ability to offer tank-bred fishes, should that be the only fish allowed in home aquariums? They are hardier than wild-caught fishes, and they are better suited to captivity since they have known no other life.

This poll is only about Anemonefishes. I don't want to broaden the poll to other fishes (tank-bred or non tank-bred species). The concept of 'illegal' is meant in this case to mean that the fish cannot be offered for trade, sale, transport, or capture.

With the above in mind, please respond to this poll, which will remain open until the end of September. Choose the statement you most agree with, even if it isn't perfect. Post any opinion or tweaking of the response you see fit.

Thanks for your participation!

 

[DonW]

I think there are already some restictions and permits required to collect already???? Making more just adds more case law for the activist to kill our hobby.

Don

 

[chend2]

I am a lawyer. I like case law. FYI Don your statements is based upon an incorrect premise. Case law does not provide for expanded environmental rights and stricter regulation.

 

[DonW]

I am a lawyer. I like case law. FYI Don your statements is based upon an incorrect premise. Case law does not provide for expanded environmental rights and stricter regulation.

I used the wrong teminology. Make new laws for one species and they, whoever "they" are will continue to add species. We saw it with fishing and this hobby is no different.

Don

 

[chend2]

I concur, the slippery slope can be a strong argument, but I would be interested in knowing what is the level of take of the aquarium industry, as well as decline in population, and industry/non-nominal environmental impact.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Since the movie came out in 2003, it is the reason many have gotten into the hobby, which has (also undeniably) been loosing popularity as a hobby.

What statistics leads you to this conclusion?

 

[DonW]

What statistics leads you to this conclusion?

I dont know about the stats but the nano tanks have become the majority. Id say clowns are one of the very few fish that should be kept in them. Just based on that we are probably killi a few extra's.

Don

 

[leebca]

Mike,

It is the LFSs in So CA and the activity of our So. CA reef clubs. People have been coming into stores wanting 'Nemo.' Other than this, sales are in decline and fewer people are getting into the hobby. Some LFSs in the Southland have downsized or closed their doors, or failed to expand based upon projections of 2+ years ago.

So that statement comes from rate of sales and popular demand in So. CA.

 

[leebca]

I think there are already some restrictions and permits required to collect already????

If that's a question as it appears, then I'd say there aren't that many as you may think. In countries outside the USA where the majority of collections occur, the laws are weak and sometimes just in place to make the country look good (i.e., they are not enforced).

In the case of the Cardinal fish for instance, it is declared officially endangered, but the restrictions on collecting is up to the country exporting. I'm afraid that greed is a driving force and stopping the collection is just a small part of the chain.

Even when collecting is restricted, the transport and import of fishes is allowed in almost all countries where the trade is substantial. The import country cannot and does not enforce collection restrictions at the source and have very little control over that part of the trade.

 

[leebca]

Don,

I will point out that the poll is not about making one species illegal. Within the genus of Amphiprion there are more than a dozen species and another dozen or more of variations introduced by controlled breeding.

 

[DonW]

Its more of a policing issue that an issue of making a new law. This hobby used to somewhat police itself out of respect for the the ocean and ones own wallet. Years ago we would have told people never to have a tank less than 55G. Today we see tanks no bigger than a goldfish bowl. The economy has driven so many people, even the experienced into the new nano's. This is a monkey see monkey do hobby that used to be expensive and that alone was enough to keep the enviromental impact under control. Today its so cheap with all the imported products a guy can give the hobby a test drive. Decide its to much and get out as quick as they rushed in without any regard to loss.


Don

 

[reedman]

I have to agree with Don on this. As much as I hate to see the environment be impacted by a hobby we are talking about a global scale policing. We can't even police our own country. If the demand is there a supply will follow. People still get there hands on piranas in our state and they have been illegal for a long time. To me it's more a matter of education on the part of the sellers to the buyers. If the sellers take responsibility for that part then fewer people will be "drive by hobbyists". The last statement that Don made is so true.....this is a monkey see monkey do hobby resulting in far more followers than leaders. If the leaders decide to lead in a responsible/respectful manner taking into account not only the monetary impact but also the environmental impact this issue will police itself. Anyone who has been in this hobby for more than 5 years has seen at least a few fads come and go...this too shall pass (IMHO).

 

[leebca]

I’ve read the posts and I think there may be a couple of important points missing from some of the perspectives.

1. I don’t know what restrictions are on Piranha. But in the scope of this poll, the fishes restricted from wild capture will still be available, only through breeders. It would be a good comparison if Piranha were restricted from being caught and imported, but it was okay for their breeding and being available in the USA for hobbyists.

2. Although money is a strong motivator, the scope of the poll is not that these fish would be unavailable – only the wild ones wouldn’t be available and only those specific Anemonefishes that are being tank- bred. Remember that the fishes will still be available – only the wild ones will be restricted.

I do wish to make clear that the poll is not about restricting all marine fishes. It is specifically about the fishes that will be still be available and sold, only tank-bred not wild-caught. And then too, only the Anemonefishes that are tank-bred (nothing to do with other fishes).

3. No restriction or law I can think of works 100%. People do cheat, lie, and steal. People do this with or without good leadership, being educated, and with morals and ethics. People do this in the presence of good or bad enforcement. But because the restriction isn't obeyed all the time, does it mean that the restrictions shouldn’t be in place? I mean, if it is hard or challenging, should we give up?

4. Going back to the Piranha. . .If there were no restrictions would there be more, less, or the same number of captive Piranha in home aquariums? Isn’t it better to have restrictions if and when needed, then to count upon the intentions or goodwill of people? This concept could be extended to crimes that are outlawed – abolish the laws and provide good leadership, education, and understanding and the crime would be reduced. I don’t think I can buy into this kind of concept. I don’t think that our society is ready or able to cooperate on that level at this time.

5. Managing this or any restriction or law is fraught with challenges, but that isn’t the poll. The poll is should there be restrictions on capturing and trading wild Anemonefishes that are available from breeders.

Anyway. . .I'm glad to see such concern and interest in the topic.

If you haven't already, please add your anonymous vote to the poll.

 

[chend2]

Drive to Canada to get my wild clownfish.