This could end very badly for our hobby ...

[Elementalj]

I was also going to add the dolphin hunt in Japan, talk about inhumanity. These yahoos probably want either notoriety or money, or perhaps BOTH.

 

[Maacc]

I was also going to add the dolphin hunt in Japan, talk about inhumanity. These yahoos probably want either notoriety or money, or perhaps BOTH.

There is a reason why those films aren't made. The Japanese and Chinese entities that engage in those actions are immune to the pressure and likely will remain so for another couple of generations, whereas westerners are typically easy to manipulate via emotional arguments, facts notwithstanding.

 

[jeremy.gosnell]

Jonathan Balcombe who wrote, "What a fish knows" (which I finished reading not long ago) is the science director of the Humane Society of America. HSA is very involved in the anti-aquarium movement, as is Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, of which Snorkel Bob was previously vice-president. It's important to realize that HSA, PETA, SSCS and others are against any animals being kept in captivity. This includes companion pets like dogs, horses, cats, etc, etc. They feel all animals should be free in the wild, at least to a large extent. They discount that for thousands of years, human beings have domestically bred animals as companions. Dogs, horses, etc, etc are chosen for breeding based on their disposition, making them suitable for human companionship.

Even if every fish kept in marine aquariums was captive bred, I assume HSA and others would still be outspoken against the hobby. It's an easy target, largely because so many people eat seafood, it's tough to turn wide swaths of the population against fishing. However, not nearly as many people keep marine aquariums, so you might be able to turn a large group against marine aquaria. The fact that such a large percentage of marine aquarium fish are wild-caught combined with issues that permeate the livestock industry (poor handling, cyanide capture, minimal to no regulation, etc) gives these folks ammunition. Since there is so little trade data surrounding marine livestock collection, survival rates, etc - groups are free to run wild with their imaginations (on both sides) and assume essentially whatever they like.

Snorkel Bob has been at this for quite some time. His motives are murky, largely because he owns a large chain of snorkel/scuba stores/charters throughout Hawaii. Rene Umberger caught her 15 min of fame when she was underwater, diving and filming a Hawaiian fish collector. The collector got angry at the intrusion and swam over and ripped her regulator out of her mouth. Of course, Snorkel Bob and his crew went nuts about this, plastering the video everywhere they could. That is one of SSCS tactics, annoy and invade someone until they lose their cool, then play the victim. What's sad, is that many Hawaiian fish collectors employ state of the art collection, acclimation and shipping procedures.

Balcombe's book is a good read and I would recommend it to any aquarist, however it does make the case that fish are so mentally and socially complex that by no means should they be kept in marine aquaria.

 

[jeremy.gosnell]

Just as a side note: Snorkel Bob is an excessively rude and hateful person. I discourage any marine aquarists from reaching out to him, or responding to him in any way. He sent me a scathing email years ago, regarding an article I wrote for a large marine aquarium publication. In it, he wished harm against me and my family in a manner that was intended to elicit a strong response. I recognized the tactic and simply didn't reply. He wanted me to lose my cool and email him back with something offensive, so he could plaster it anywhere as a portrait of what aquarists are like. Instead I didn't reply.

 

[Elementalj]

Smart guy.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

There is a lot of fuel around for his fire, as there are a lot of pimples on our face. Our hobby is not as responsible as it should be and that will always come back to bite us.

 

[wkscott]

Sista

 

[reeferfoxx]

I'm speechless... lol

 

[Elementalj]

I'm speechless... lol

Me too, had to go find the rosary!

 

[ngvu1]

Wow. I don't know what to say yet. Thanks for sharing the video......A second after watching the video, this popped right up in my mind "Am I part of the problem? What can I do to help fix this?"

 

[wkscott]

Wow. I don't know what to say yet. Thanks for sharing the video......A second after watching the video, this popped right up in my mind "Am I part of the problem? What can I do to help fix this?"

Any good propagandist will try to make you think.......HIS way.

If this video worked on you as a reefer, how do you think it wll affect non-aquarists?

It is indeed a dark day.

 

[Elementalj]

Any good propagandist will try to make you think.......HIS way.

If this video worked on you as a reefer, how do you think it wll affect non-aquarists?

It is indeed a dark day.

Indeed.

 

[cmcoker]

There is a reason why those films aren't made. The Japanese and Chinese entities that engage in those actions are immune to the pressure and likely will remain so for another couple of generations, whereas westerners are typically easy to manipulate via emotional arguments, facts notwithstanding.

But isn't there a film on the dolphin slaughter? The Cove, iirc

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

I watched the "teaser" and it full of propaganda. Yes we should think more conservatively and we are with every passing day but this movie, if it gets funding, will be full of lies.

 

[Brew12]

I must be a contrarian. This just made me want to set up my first reef tank even sooner. And, I will do so completely guilt free. I've identified a source of dry rock that is quarried from dry land in Florida. My live rock will be dry rock that was conditioned in a tank. The majority of fish that I want can be captive bred. My corals can all be obtained from frags purchased from other aquarists. Impact on the ocean? Hopefully positive since it is hard to look at a beautiful reef tank and not think that reefs are something that need to be preserved.

However, as a sign of respect to Snorkel Bob and all his hard work bringing these issues to light, I may immortalize him by putting a laminated picture of him in my tank. I'm thinking it would look great lining the bottom of my future sump where all such detritus should collect.

 

[cobraz]

Yellow Tangs are being tank raised and sold now - so that should be where some of the money goes to Tank raised.
Once completely funded - then they can say no more wild caught.... solves both issues in one.

I believe in not seeing reefs ***** for the hobby, but it's a double edge sword.. more has to go into tank raised research as well.
Then say 10%-20% can be returned to the wild - what a concept ! Restocking nature.

Same with corals - the people who raise them in the ocean - should also replace some of the stock - it would be beneficial for everyone.

 

[Matze]

Gotta love a criminal that talks about moral...
People like this guy are nothing more than the trash of modern society. I wonder if he ever thought about the impact on the environment when those stupid SeaShepperd dudes travel around the world for breaking laws.

Ha gotta love criminals..

 

[jeremy.gosnell]

Aquarium collection has a positive impact as well. Many islands where fish are collected for our tanks have no real economic opportunity. What's existed in the past has been mining the reef for limestone and fishing for either dead or live food fish. Both encourage islanders to destroy their reefs. The growth of the aquarium hobby has increased the cost of marine fish and made live aquarium fish an economically viable fishery in many locales where one has never existed. Yes, work needs to be done to eradicate the use of cyanide once and for all - and if a live fish cyanide test kit existed that would be expedited. Yes, work needs to be done to train islanders in net capture. Collectors working on the ground in that regard claim islanders are eager to learn. Yes, data should be more transparent and better organized and the New England Aquarium is working on that. Things are getting better, day by day. Yellow tangs will soon be commercially available on a wide scale as aqua cultured fish and blue tangs will be right behind them. It's quite possible that in the next 10 years a majority of fish will be captive raised.

Bob Witner takes isolated incidents and paints the entirety of the hobby and industry with that brush. He misquotes people, skews facts and creates a narrative where aquarists are greedy fish collectors that care nothing about the animals they keep. I really believe he is an awful person, based on the few communications I've had with him. My advice to everyone is do what you love, do it well, invest in your animal's well-being and with a bit of luck and enough rope, Snorkel Bob will take care of himself.

 

[jeremy.gosnell]

What's more concerning is that outlets like Nat Geo (whom are respected and considered accurate by the general public) have turned to Rene Umberger as a guide and authority on marine aquariums. She was quoted in a recent article that claimed 90% of fish collected for the hobby are collected with cyanide. I countered it with an article which I later retracted because of murky data. However, for a major environmental news publication to turn to a fringe activist as an authority on something is irresponsible at best.

 

[reeferfoxx]

I think if people are blind to the one sided subjectivness of documentaries, why aren't marine aquarists creating their own rendition? Why are we subject to arguing without being heard? Articles are one thing. Getting someone to read it is another.