People from Florida must read !

GatorGreg · May 11, 2023

Spare time said:
You sound like an older person who has no clue what younger people like and are interested in lol. Most young people aren't in this hobby likely because of the costs (of the hobby and the costs of living in general) and that young people are far more mobile (of which fish tanks are not).

I’m 36 bud. I was raised in decent environment.

|Frank| · May 11, 2023

aws2266 said:
Florida has some big problems when it comes to invasive species, so it's no wonder they are taking such drastic steps. Maybe if people in the hobby would speak up when they see their friends doing something detrimental we wouldn't be in this position. Also, in all these videos talking about this bill, I've never once seen someone link to it. Could be because it's not the end of the world like some people are making it out to be.

Hey, it’s not a bill. It’s a recommendation to the FWC staff. There’s another thread with articles, videos, and a petition to FWC that Top shelf provided from their FB page.

|Frank| · May 11, 2023

Florida banning

For my people in Florida, opinions?

www.reef2reef.com

More information and links on this thread

GatorGreg · May 11, 2023

Spare time said:
You sound like an older person who has no clue what younger people like and are interested in lol. Most young people aren't in this hobby likely because of the costs (of the hobby and the costs of living in general) and that young people are far more mobile (of which fish tanks are not).

Travel = expensive
Apple products = expensive
Tech in general = expensive
Designer clothing = expensive
Choosing to live in a big city for no reason other than it’s hip and to be around like minded people ( please stay there) = VERY EXPENSIVE

Young people are extreme consumers. They just choose to spend their money on different things.

This hobby is very expensive. But please don’t act like it’s anymore expensive than what other people choose to spend their money on.

My entire system is equal to the brand new iPhone, Iwatch, a pair of the noise cancelling air pods and a powerful laptop.

How many young folks have all of that?
It has nothing to do with money it’s that they think we’re weirdos. Modern Young people aren’t into this because they like spending their money on things they can flaunt in public and impress other people. Posting pictures of their science experiment of the ocean on reef 2 reef isn’t their idea of a good time.

redfishbluefish · May 11, 2023

Just had to delete a number of posts. PLEASE, let's keep politics out of it and also, we are family friendly, so no nasty language, real or implied.

|Frank| · May 11, 2023

The minute it goes political is when this thread will be shut down. This isn’t politics, it’s a bureaucracy. FWC wasn’t voted in. They were appointed. Let’s focus on how this will impact our hobby. It will most certainly affect people outside of the state of Florida as well. This is where we come together for our hobby and not be separated bc of politics…

GatorGreg · May 11, 2023

|Frank| said:
The minute it goes political is when this thread will be shut down. This isn’t politics, it’s a bureaucracy. FWC wasn’t voted in. They were appointed. Let’s focus on how this will impact our hobby. It will most certainly affect people outside of the state of Florida as well. This is where we come together for our hobby and not be separated bc of politics…

Well now I hope it happens so people can see. People have to speak up and speak against over reach not shut down speech at the first sign of what they perceive as dissent. I get that it was political.

But it’s a political topic that directly will affect our hobby.

The_Paradox · May 11, 2023

|Frank| said:
This isn’t politics, it’s a bureaucracy. FWC wasn’t voted in. They were appointed.

So by the transitive our votes put them there.

|Frank| · May 11, 2023

The_Paradox said:
So by the transitive our votes put them there.

Lol you got a point. I got in the moment. It’s sad that ppl can’t put aside the politics. I’d be just as upset if this was happening in a blue state because it’s a love for our hobby and the ppl in it
Haters gon hate I guess ‍

legionofdoon · May 11, 2023

Chui said:
Can you please explain what Australian level thinking is?

Australia has very strict laws about bringing in non native wildlife

legionofdoon · May 11, 2023

aws2266 said:
Florida has some big problems when it comes to invasive species, so it's no wonder they are taking such drastic steps. Maybe if people in the hobby would speak up when they see their friends doing something detrimental we wouldn't be in this position. Also, in all these videos talking about this bill, I've never once seen someone link to it. Could be because it's not the end of the world like some people are making it out to be.

It's not a bill it's a policy so no one gets a vote on it. Lionfish aside, Burmese python problem wasn't from hobbyist releasing them it was from Hurricane Andrew hitting and taking out a breeding facility.

The_Paradox · May 11, 2023

legionofdoon said:
It's not a bill it's a policy so no one gets a vote on it. Lionfish aside, Burmese python problem wasn't from hobbyist releasing them it was from Hurricane Andrew hitting and taking out a breeding facility.

Just to play devils advocate, that breeding facility would not have been there if this policy was enforce at the time.

legionofdoon · May 11, 2023

The_Paradox said:
Just to play devils advocate, that breeding facility would not have been there if this policy was enforce at the time.

Out of curiosity are you from Florida?

The_Paradox · May 11, 2023

legionofdoon said:
Out of curiosity are you from Florida?

Yup. Own a house in Okaloosa and a farm in Walton.

legionofdoon · May 11, 2023

The_Paradox said:
Yup. Own a house in Okaloosa and a farm in Walton.

Nice my sisters and their families live in Alford. Originally from Loxahatchee, but it's now a suburb of West Palm so they moved. Once I retire I'm heading north too. I love South Florida but it's lost it's soul.

legionofdoon · May 11, 2023

We were up there over Christmas, their pond froze over, I never thought I'd see that in Florida lol.

GirlGotTanked · May 11, 2023

Father Fish is a great guy. I used to go to his shop in Venice all the time. I know as a Florida native, our reefs here have had some real decimation from the lionfish being let lose into the gulf. Also species like the boa constrictor, ball python, and other exotic reptiles have been exposed to the everglades and backwoods, which has disrupted that environment. We have wild chameleons. Chameleons only come from Madagascar and Yemen, so they love it here. Lol. This could have to do with that. We're big on aquaculture in Florida though so I don't think that this will necessarily cancel all of the pet industry. It's probably geared towards preventing things like this happening more, so limiting imports more than exports. I'm not saying that I agree with all of what's been going on in Florida, but over the years I've heard a lot of talk about how the exotic imports of animals have affected our native Florida environment. Even with plants. We have many foreign invasive brush and trees that I don't remember seeing years ago. Honestly, I'm disappointed that we only have 200 researched and approved species. The entire system should be functioning better than that. I love the reefing hobby, but if we could gear more towards captive bred species instead of importing wild exotics to Florida it would be an improvement. Hopefully I haven't offended anyone, and there has been some wild legislation going on here that I have not been satisfied with either.

LeDart · May 11, 2023

GatorGreg said:
Travel = expensive
Apple products = expensive
Tech in general = expensive
Designer clothing = expensive
Choosing to live in a big city for no reason other than it’s hip and to be around like minded people ( please stay there) = VERY EXPENSIVE

Young people are extreme consumers. They just choose to spend their money on different things.

This hobby is very expensive. But please don’t act like it’s anymore expensive than what other people choose to spend their money on.

My entire system is equal to the brand new iPhone, Iwatch, a pair of the noise cancelling air pods and a powerful laptop.

How many young folks have all of that?
It has nothing to do with money it’s that they think we’re weirdos. Modern Young people aren’t into this because they like spending their money on things they can flaunt in public and impress other people. Posting pictures of their science experiment of the ocean on reef 2 reef isn’t their idea of a good time.

As a younger person myself, I agree. People in my area blast their money on whatever is new and hip this causes them to have very low amounts of money, no care for others, their hobbies, or their beliefs, if you aren't with them, then you are against them.