Environmental Impact of our Hobby.

[crimper]

Originally Posted by Geo

The way things are going in general, soon the only place you will be able to see a reef is in a tank.

Imo, the hobby is not the biggest threat or impact to reefs at this time.

+1

Aquarium trade is not the main reason why we lost 10% of the living reef. As long as we continue to do informed and ethical reef keeping practices we should be able to minimize the environmental impact of this hobby.

There are lots of things that we can do to contribute in the conservation of the living reef in our own little ways. A simple information campaign through social media, forums, website, internet etc. will help in the information dissemination on how we can have a sustainable reef. We don't even have to go to the Tropics do something about it.

I have learned a lot from this hobby, I was once ignorant on the environmental damage that we are causing to the living reef. In return I'm appealing and reaching to my roots, support conservation efforts in my home town.

my 2 cents.

[Reef Pilot]

Originally Posted by crimper

+1

Aquarium trade is not the main reason why we lost 10% of the living reef. As long as we continue to do informed and ethical reef keeping practices we should be able to minimize the environmental impact of this hobby.

There are lots of things that we can do to contribute in the conservation of the living reef in our own little ways. A simple information campaign through social media, forums, website, internet etc. will help in the information dissemination on how we can have a sustainable reef. We don't even have to go to the Tropics do something about it.

I have learned a lot from this hobby, I was once ignorant on the environmental damage that we are causing to the living reef. In return I'm appealing and reaching to my roots, support conservation efforts in my home town.

my 2 cents.

Totally agree. Didn't realize how ignorant I was about reefs (and esp corals) until I got into the hobby. Now am far more aware and interested in preserving the planet's reefs.

Probably could say the same for the Vancouver Aquarium. I think they have made people much more aware of marine mammals (and other sea creatures) which has ignited more interest and effort in protecting our oceans.

[rsisvixen]

I think environmental impact, overfishing,pollution, tourists breaking things off the reef for a souvenir and introduced species ( such as the lionfish and the crown of thorns starfish ) are probably far greater threats than our hobby will ever be.

I think most hobbyists are probably more aware of the reefs predicament than anyone else out there.

[jorjef]

We take 100 percent, give back zero.. Net, very negative affect.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by jorjef

We take 100 percent, give back zero.. Net, very negative affect.

Ya, I tend to agree. Lots of arguments minimizing the impact, as in not as bad as "X", but nothing positive.

I gained a strong liking of killer whales after seeing them live at the aquarium, but I still disagree with keeping them Sure, not as bad as killing them with pollution or sticking a harpoon in their heads, but the question here is "is reefing good for the environment", not is reefing as bad as other things affecting wild ecosystems? Two different things.

So how is our hobby good for the wild reef? How many of us, out of all of us, have gained a passion for reefs and given back in any way?

[kien]

I think I probably do more harm going out to sushi once a week.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by kien

I think I probably do more harm going out to sushi once a week.

Sure, but that's food. It sustains your family. The tank is purely recreational at the expense of the creatures inside. Some could argue that sushi is recreational, depending on your chopstick skills But I digress...

[GoFish]

Originally Posted by rsisvixen

I think environmental impact, overfishing,pollution, tourists breaking things off the reef for a souvenir and introduced species ( such as the lionfish and the crown of thorns starfish ) are probably far greater threats than our hobby will ever be.

I think most hobbyists are probably more aware of the reefs predicament than anyone else out there.

This sums up my thoughts pretty well. There is no doubt that the aquarium trade has a negative impact on our environment (reefs) but it's a probably a very small percentage of hectares destroyed in other ways. That video posted earlier about dragging nets through reefs to collect giant clams was gross. Also that video about the South China Sea off Palawan dredging reefs to reclaim land ugh... Being a hobbiest now has opened my eyes to how sensitive these creatures are that we put into our tanks, I'm also amazed at times how resilient they can be. I made a choice last year to no longer buy wild caught fish or wild corals, not sure if one person has much of an effect but I feel better about it

Global warming will progressively have more of an impact as every year goes by

These videos don't exactly relate to the title of this thread but there's a couple things we can do differently to have a positive, or not so negative impact on reefs.

Super corals...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=DtCDquEYzPE

Reef safe sunscreen
http://www.padi.com/blog/2013/06/27/...-scuba-diving/