The perfect world

[Bryce M.]

Hey guys just wanting to share some thoughts I have been having recently. Do you believe we could eventually as a hobby cut out coral exports from the ocean?
When I say this I'm really focusing on the SPS side of the hobby but we can and have cultured softies and LPS.
I really believe we can honestly, when I started getting into corals I said I'd never go to SPS but I've started getting equipment ready for some, honestly the reason is I've seen companies that are nothing more than a hobbyist and a big collection but yet they contribute so much with captive corals. I would like to try to contribute to this, so what do you guys think. If we work hard enough could we cut out wild caught corals and heck even culturing them in the ocean and just have corals grown in our own tanks and facilities?

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

Hey guys just wanting to share some thoughts I have been having recently. Do you believe we could eventually as a hobby cut out coral exports from the ocean?
When I say this I'm really focusing on the SPS side of the hobby but we can and have cultured softies and LPS.
I really believe we can honestly, when I started getting into corals I said I'd never go to SPS but I've started getting equipment ready for some, honestly the reason is I've seen companies that are nothing more than a hobbyist and a big collection but yet they contribute so much with captive corals. I would like to try to contribute to this, so what do you guys think. If we work hard enough could we cut out wild caught corals and heck even culturing them in the ocean and just have corals grown in our own tanks and facilities?

I certainly think its possible but also don't think it so black and white unless you're talking about wild collected as opposed to mariculture?

When it comes to considerations of the carbon foot print of such facilities with all the electricity used I doubt it adds up as much as the flights of transporting wild corals but I also doubt its insignificant. The other considerations would be the fact that that mariculture gardens are essentially benefiting the surrounding ecosystem in a somewhat similar way to an artificial reef. Then you also want to factor in the locals who work these facilities- not only is this teaching them how to protect their native reefs by not collecting from them to the same extent but its also adding to their economy.

The short answer is yes, the long answer is I'm unsure that alone is the best path.

 

[Bryce M.]

I certainly think its possible but also don't think it so black and white unless you're talking about wild collected as opposed to mariculture?

When it comes to considerations of the carbon foot print of such facilities with all the electricity used I doubt it adds up as much as the flights of transporting wild corals but I also doubt its insignificant. The other considerations would be the fact that that mariculture gardens are essentially benefiting the surrounding ecosystem in a somewhat similar way to an artificial reef. Then you also want to factor in the locals who work these facilities- not only is this teaching them how to protect their native reefs by not collecting from them to the same extent but its also adding to their economy.

The short answer is yes, the long answer is I'm unsure that alone is the best path.

You bring up great points and I'm not fully against mariculture at all, I just believe we could cut them out
it's a very complicated circumstance, I think first step is encouraging more cultured either gardens or people's homes and facilities. I like how Indo is going, from what I understand wild collection is banned but mariculture is allowed, I like that.
But I think as a hobby we could have healthier corals grown here and that don't need to go half way across the world to get to the US or Europe