Environmental Impact of our Hobby.

[Reefer Rob]

Every animal "takes" something. I think you need to get over this (or not, it's up to you). How many of us would have a job if someone didn't need to "take" something.

People who "took" something from the Mariculture industry provided jobs to an impoverished area and added value to the reefs. Try a few Google searches to see whats going on.

Same goes for rock, sand or whatever... as long as it is done in an environmentally sustainable way. There's no way for me to know if this is the case, since I buy most things through several middle men, but again adding value to the reefs will encourage local governments to make good conservation decisions.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Every animal "takes" something. I think you need to get over this (or not, it's up to you). How many of us would have a job if someone didn't need to "take" something.

Hope that isn't directed at me! I take, I know that. I'm ok with it

[saltcreep]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

People who "took" something from the Mariculture industry provided jobs to an impoverished area and added value to the reefs. Try a few Google searches to see whats going on.

Same goes for rock, sand or whatever... as long as it is done in an environmentally sustainable way. There's no way for me to know if this is the case, since I buy most things through several middle men, but again adding value to the reefs will encourage local governments to make good conservation decisions.

This industry is a looooong way from being sustainable. Greed rules the day. If you can pull it off the reef to make a dollar today, who cares about tomorrow. That's the thought process of many of the exporting nations.

Yes, when compared to other factors, the impact of the hobby is relatively small. Unfortunately, it's the other factors that will have the ultimate say in the future of it. Bottom line is that if you remove animals from an ecosystem will have an impact. Period.

[George]

A lot has been said about removing animals from the reef can impact the reef. I agree with that.
More overall, the stuff that we are dumping can also impact the environment. A lot of people are using medicine to treat their animals and just dump the waste water directly into the sewage or worst directly to storm drain without neutralizing the water first. That can impact the environment.
Also the waste water from our water change can impact the environment. It may have some stuff (live or not) that may not be native to our local environment. Dumping them into sewage and/or storm drain may introduce them to our local environment.

[jorjef]

Originally Posted by George

A lot has been said about removing animals from the reef can impact the reef. I agree with that.
More overall, the stuff that we are dumping can also impact the environment. A lot of people are using medicine to treat their animals and just dump the waste water directly into the sewage or worst directly to storm drain without neutralizing the water first. That can impact the environment.
Also the waste water from our water change can impact the environment. It may have some stuff (live or not) that may not be native to our local environment. Dumping them into sewage and/or storm drain may introduce them to our local environment.

By George, I think you've created a sub category to the original question.... It's our home environment being affected by the hobby.. Carry on, do discuss..

[Reefer Rob]

Originally Posted by jorjef

By George, I think you've created a sub category to the original question.... It's our home environment being affected by the hobby.. Carry on, do discuss..

Pretty sure what I had for dinner last night had more of an impact on the local environment than my aquarium ever will.